AUTHOR'S NOTE: I changed this one slightly because I don't want Harleen to be interested in the Joker's case from the get go. Someone else needs the spotlight :)

Perseverance

The atmosphere in Arkham Asylum had been even more unsettling as of late as the Joker had made his presence well known. He'd lost his first psychologist already, Dr. Charles Miller whom refused to be in the same room as him after a week of attempted manipulation started to take its toll. In other words, he got out before his sanity started to slip. The Joker had been harassing the nurses as well as trying to provoke other various members of staff. In fact, there had been a few cases of guards trying to give him a piece of their mind but failed due to jobs being threatened for the protection of the patient though what they didn't know was that the big boss man Dr. Jeremiah Arkham wasn't in a position to fire anybody under any circumstances no matter how out of line they were.

Arkham was desperate for staff after Dr. Crane's incident nearly a year ago and weeding out the bent guards was a difficult task but it was Commissioner Gordon that ultimately helped in this. Who would've thought those seemingly 'decent' people had such strong connections to the mob? However for all Jeremiah Arkham knew, there were still bent guards and nurses working there, maybe even doctors such as Crane? After all everybody had loans to pay off, mortgages to get rid of and possible medical bills up the yin yang. It was merely a matter of blind faith that kept the place running. Within a week the Joker had been moved to the top floor of the west wing and into solitary. He had been informed of Dr. Arkham's refusal to allow him to live alongside the other inmates until he could display acceptable behaviour towards the members of staff. So there he was in solitary, not saying a word to get back in with the boys downstairs. After all, these crazies would be so much fun to play with – he of all people would know.

The first floor on the north wing of the asylum had also been pretty eventful. It seems that an enthusiastic female doctor was determined to pester the boss again. Recently moved over from New York, she was the new girl on the block though she was no stranger to Gotham as she was a former friend of Dr. Jonathan Crane, a man whom ironically went from doctor to patient in Arkham due to his own carelessness. However, it was the third time this week she had interrupted the boss in his office concerning the treatment of this man and it was becoming tiresome for him.

She had been relentless in her requests so far, though it was a good quality in any human being; it wasn't for him when he was on the receiving end of her bothersome attitude. Her delicate features should have proven otherwise with her angelic blonde hair, porcelain skin and baby blues but the truth was that this woman had thick skin. After all, she would never have lasted with the criminally insane if she didn't possess that tough streak. She also would have been no good at what she did and she'd proven herself to be one of the best in the field. So many success stories attached themselves to her and each one was more challenging than the last. Arkham definitely needed this woman as part of the team and she knew this all too well. She knew how bad the place was holding up in terms of staff and took full advantage of this. It's what allowed her to assert herself that little bit more without the fear of being fired. Though she never let the display of her respect for him falter, after all she still had her manners and common decency.

In his office, Jeremiah sat there in silence, glaring over the rims of his glasses at the woman sitting on the opposite side of the desk. He wanted her to know how annoyed he was that she'd decided to bother him about this again. She knew it and she'd pretty much summed up in her mind what he was going to say as it was the same every time but she wasn't a quitter. Jeremiah sighed heavily and leaned forward in his chair, taking a sip from his mug.

"I know why you're here Quinzel and we've already been over this twice before. I thought I'd made myself clear when I said I wouldn't allow you to treat this patient under any circumstances. You know the rules and I believe any participation in his treatment from a past acquaintance would only stump his progress. One would have to question what kind of psychiatric institution we would be if we allowed this sort of unethical treatment to take place. Doctors and patients should have a strictly professional relationship and nothing more, you above anyone should know this considering your years of experience." Jeremiah informed Harleen for the third time. He looked defiant over her but she knew that she still had to try and push for this.

"I understand the lack of ethics that surround me treating Dr. Crane sir but I believe with some unconventional methods I could really – "with this Harleen was cut off mid sentence as Jeremiah raised his hand to silence her.

"Stop right there." He could feel his blood beginning to boil; this woman seemed to consider herself as a crusader. She wanted to help EVEYBODY, including those she knew and her undermining of ethics was enough to make him sick. He was expecting so much more than this, someone more obedient like Dr. Adams but maybe that was too much to ask for? He wished he could fire her right now but it just wasn't that simple unfortunately, he hated how much she was needed because he knew she'd be a constant thorn in his side. It delighted him now to see her face change instantly when he interrupted her, the mixture of offense and anger was priceless but he didn't indulge in this too long before he carried on speaking.

"Look doctor, the truth is that the asylum has received enough of a bad reputation in recent years without dabbling in something such as this. Our ethics are the only thing that's keeping us civilized and as you can imagine, Crane's lack of them didn't exactly help us redeem our image any further. I can't afford that kind of negligence to be displayed again on any level." He concluded and with that Harleen came to the realisation that the reputation of the asylum was in dire need of becoming acceptable again. She wanted to help her old friend of course but she also wanted to be recognised as a driving force in deriving the institution's name from the gutter.

"I understand that the reputation of the institution is important Dr. Arkham so if you won't allow me to be Jonathan's psychiatrist then I wish to pay him friendly visits instead." She told him which he seemed surprised about, he thought for sure she would have continued to push this but was relieved that he was free of it now that she had decided to compromise. Though the thought occurred to him that she may have been trying to use this as a tip toe towards a patient/doctor environment but he knew how to overcome this.

"Well I can't exactly deny you those privileges Dr. Quinzel. However, if you want friendly visits with Crane then I suggest you do it on your own time, not mine. As you already know, visiting hours take place on weekends so you can take pride in joining the general public who are crazy enough to come here in their spare time." He told her and smirked slightly as he looked down at some of his notes and wrote something down. Harleen was expecting something a little more intimate and relaxed. Maybe not a patient/doctor environment but maybe something much closer to that. The thought of it was disappointing to her.

"With all due respect sir, I really think it would be better if I saw him in a more relaxed environment." She pressed on him. It was typical, once she had come to a compromise she had even more demands on top of it but he'd expected this from her. His slyness exuded once more as he looked up from his notes at her over the rim of his glasses.

"With all due respect Dr. Quinzel, that's not your choice. You want to see him as a friend so you get all the privileges that come with being a friend of an inmate meaning reinforced glass and high security. You can take it or leave it but this is the only way I will allow you to meet with Crane under any circumstances." He mocked and proceeded to watch Harleen become much more uncomfortable, knowing she wasn't in control of the situation anymore. Although Arkham needed her, she needed the asylum all the same, it was her big challenge and one of the main reasons she'd moved back to Gotham from New York. God how she hated to compromise completely but it had to be done.

"Fine, I'll come back on Saturday." She told him, trying her best not to sound defeated. Jeremiah was trying to hide his joy in this but still smirked at her with an aura of smugness about him.

"Perfect; end of discussion. You may leave now Dr. Quinzel, you have one of yours waiting for you downstairs I believe." He informed her which she already knew. She had a 10 o'clock appointment with a homicidal paranoid schizophrenic but as far as Harleen was concerned, it was pretty run of the mill. However instead of getting lost in her thoughts, Harleen stood up and turned around to leave when she stopped in her tracks as her boss opened his mouth again.

"Oh and one more thing," he called her back and she was actually dreading what he had to say. It couldn't have been good whatever it was, she'd pretty much gathered that Jeremiah didn't like her. She knew this because she actually had the balls to stand up for what she believed in, she was a strong woman and it surfaced pretty well.

"Yes sir?" Harleen asked as she turned back to him.

"If you carry on trying to push the bar with me like this I'll have to seriously start considering your future at this institution. Up until now your reputation's been the only thing keeping me from dismissing you so I suggest you tread a little more carefully around me from now on, understand?" Harleen tried her hardest not to laugh at the empty threat but kept a straight face and simply nodded in confirmation.

"Yes Dr. Arkham, thank you for your time," she said obediently just as he had wanted her to and swiftly exited the room. The obedience she displayed was just to shut him up and he had no idea. It would also take a great deal of perseverance for her to achieve her goal but she would do it eventually. She'd get the patient she wanted. On top of this she got to see Jonathan, though she dreaded what state he'd be in. However, she knew it would also be interesting to see how much he had changed. Interesting but terrifying.