Barbara watched Helena leave with a small amount of envy for the young woman's ability to run freely over the rooftops to search for their charge and a large amount of admiration for the lithe figure. She made her way toward the Delphi trying not to focus on the cutting words Dinah had thrown at them and concentrate only on finding the girl so they could show her how wrong she was and how much she'd come to mean to them. She had just turned on her several monitors when the phone rang.
"Hello...Oh, hi Dad, I'm sorry I can't talk right now. Dinah's run off… what's wrong?" Barbara's heart nearly stopped when she heard what her father had to say.
"She was what?... When? Two days ago?" she shouted as she heard the words she'd never expected to hear. "How the hell did that happen and why wasn't I told?...Okay I understand, I'm sure you're doing what you can to find out…Yes, keep me posted. Thanks for the head's up dad."
Barbara hung up the phone and sat stunned as the news she'd just heard tried to settle into acceptance. Dr. Harleen Quinzel…. Harley Quinn had been released from Arkham Asylum. Just before she released the loudest profanity she'd ever uttered; the phone rang again. It was Gabby, so pushing the psychotic psychiatrist aside for the moment, she entered the code that would let Dinah's friend enter the elevator which would take her to the Clocktower. She would just have to cross the Harley Quinn bridge after they found Dinah and brought her home.
"Fuck!" Dinah swore to herself as she walked the streets of New Gotham wondering what the hell she'd just done. Sure, she had been pissed by Helena's sudden attack, especially after what had happened with Gabby, her so-called best friend and she had been growing more and more frustrated and hurt with the way they treated her and by the way they often ignored her while they sat and pretend not to ogle each other, but she didn't understand the pure rage that had taken over her. Still she couldn't deny it had felt good to tell them the truth about how she felt. Especially since they couldn't be bothered to see there was something wrong with her on their own.
Angrily wiping tears from her cheeks, Dinah continued to walk, having no idea where she was going to go or what she was going to do. God, her head was killing her and she was just so tired. She had no doubt Helena was out looking for her but she just wasn't ready to be found. She decided it would be best to find somewhere to stay for the night and figure out what she wanted to do in the morning. She frowned as it occurred to her she had very little cash and a single credit card that would take Oracle a half a second to trace. She briefly contemplated heading to Wayne Manor but remembered Alfred had gone to visit Dick Grayson in Bludhaven.
"Fuck," she swore again and was only mildly surprised when the garbage can she was walking past fell over. It seemed she couldn't even swear without her powers showing up.
"You're awfully young to be using such language aren't you Miss Lance or do you prefer Redmond?"
Dinah jumped at the silky voice coming from just behind her. How the hell had she not sensed the black stretch limo trailing behind her? Hell, it was ostentatious enough, how had she not seen it? She turned to look as the dark window lowered even further and the speaker leaned forward. Dinah's chest tightened painfully when she saw the beautiful blonde smiling politely at her. Harley Quinn.
Flashes of the pain that this woman had caused so many people, especially Barbara and Helena, ran through her mind and she instantly assumed a fighting stance, expecting to be grabbed by one of the woman's thugs at any second. "Why aren't you in Arkham?" she asked, irritated that her voice shook slightly and that part of her was hoping for Huntress to appear.
"Would you believe I stepped out for a bite to eat? Prison food is rather bland for my tastes," Harley quipped.
"No," Dinah retorted, her eyes darting around trying to sense if there were hidden figures waiting to attack. She was shocked to discover she didn't sense any hint of danger. Not from behind her and more surprisingly, not from the woman watching her from the back of a limo. For some reason that frightened her more than anything.
Harley offered a lighthearted laugh and then stepped out of the car. An elegant eyebrow lifted as she watched Dinah back away from her.
"Easy, Miss…Dinah, isn't it?" Harley said soothingly. "I'm not going to hurt you," she assured the nervous girl.
"Yeah? Well you'll understand if I don't believe you for a damned second, won't you?" Dinah retorted, breathing deeply and preparing to push out against the former and very unstable psychiatrist if needed.
Harley laughed at that. "You've been hanging around with Helena and Barbara too long my dear. Their suspicious natures seemed to have rubbed off on you."
Dinah flinched at the reminder of what she'd just left and Harley, seeing the reaction moved toward her.
"Don't," Dinah warned and then pushed, feeling a sense of power as she saw a surprised expression cross the older woman's face when she found herself unable to move.
"Impressive," Harley drawled seductively. "You're growing up, Little Bird."
"Don't call me that. I'm not a kid."
Harley hadn't even bothered fighting against the invisible restraint Dinah had placed on her. She'd been in far worse situations and to be honest, she found it rather intriguing. Still, there was something off about the young Meta and she was inexplicably compelled to find out what it was. Or maybe it was just boredom.
"No. Indeed you're not," Harley said in a rare bout of seriousness as she studied the girl in the glow of the streetlight. Young Dinah was quite different than when they had first met. She was definitely a beauty but the once irritatingly bubbly and innocent girl who'd fought her so bravely and fiercely was gone. In her place was a young woman who wore a maturity beyond her years and an air of sorrow and worry that both saddened Harley and called to her at the same time.
In short, this enigmatic girl spelled trouble. The kind of trouble the old Quinn would have happily pursued but the kind the new Quinn needed to avoid. She knew she should run and run fast, but there was just enough crazy left inside of her to keep her from doing so.
"You're interesting little power aside," she continued casually, "what are you doing wandering out here by yourself? Don't you know how dangerous the streets of Gotham are at night? Especially for such a beautiful young woman like yourself?"
"Yeah, well I thought you were still in prison or I wouldn't have left," Dinah muttered, blushing at the compliment. Despite herself, she found herself smiling at the woman's resulting laugh.
"You flatter me, honeybunch."
Dinah shrugged. "Not on purpose."
"Of course not," Harley grinned, "but you haven't answered my question…wait, let me guess. I am still a psychiatrist after all," she commented drily.
"Go ahead," Dinah said nonchalantly.
"I'd say, given the lateness of the hour and the fact I haven't yet been beaten to a pulp by the lovely Huntress, you've run away."
Dinah scowled. ""Running away is what kids do. As of today, I'm legal and not anybody's responsibility. So, I decided it was time to move out and I left."
Harley wanted to point out that that was kind of the definition of running away but she could see the girl was still obviously distressed.
"I'm sorry my dear," she said sincerely. "I didn't mean to strike a nerve. So," she wisely decided to change the subject. "It's your birthday then? Why don't I take you for a late dinner as a small little birthday present and you tell Auntie Quinn all about it?"
Dinah gaped at the blonde. "Dinner? With you? Are you crazy?" she sputtered.
Harley grinned. "That's the rumor," she said drily.
Dinah swallowed, and almost instinctively tightened the mental hold she had on the smaller woman. "I meant, why the hell would I go anywhere with you?"
Harley refused to acknowledge the small flicker of inexplicable pain that caused her. "I realize we have a bit of an unpleasant history," she acknowledged.
"Unpleasant?" Dinah asked incredulously. "You're one of the worst criminals in Gotham history, Dr. Quinn. You betrayed Helena's trust in the worst way possible and then you broke into our home and nearly killed Barbara. All of us. I'd say that's a bit more than unpleasant."
"Well yes, when you phrase it that way," Harley remarked with a teasing grin but then she turned serious. "Does it change anything if I tell you I didn't escape from Arkham? That I was released a couple of days ago, all nice and depressingly legal?"
Dinah looked at the woman for a long moment and found herself believing her. She knew that had Quinn actually escaped, the woman would be happily bragging about it. Still… "No, it doesn't."
Harley's admiration for the girl…no, young woman, increased. "Look Dinah, I understand your reluctance and quite frankly I'd think less of you if you didn't fear me, but there are things you don't understand about me. Things I don't really understand," she added almost to herself before focusing back on the girl. "The truth is, I saw you walking, looking like someone just kicked your favorite puppy and, hard as it may be to believe for both of us, I found myself wanting to help."
"Why?" Dinah asked suspiciously.
Harley looked at her as she struggled to find the answer for that. "I really don't know," she admitted honestly.
Dinah didn't know why but that simple honesty made her feel a little better. "I don't trust you," she said bluntly.
"No reason you should," Harley agreed pleasantly. "However, why don't you use your mental mojo and look at my intentions. I promise that I'm not up to any evil…tonight," she smirked, "I just saw another woman in distress and felt a rare urge to offer my assistance. Go ahead and read me if you want to be sure. I don't mind."
Dinah blinked at the offer. "You don't mind?" she asked doubtfully. Why would a virtual stranger offer her mind to Dinah when those she was closest to backed away from her? Unless it was a trap.
"It's not a trap," Harley grinned, reading Dinah like a book. "I swear on my…let's see, what is it I value most in life?" she asked casually, while seriously wondering what she truly did have that had any real, intrinsic value. What was the one thing she trusted above all else? It was rather sad that there as only one thing she could think of. "I swear on my own life," she finally said, with no touch of sarcasm in her voice. She'd once thought there was something…someone else. In fact, she'd clung to that one man so desperately it had eventually driven her mad. It took years but she'd finally discovered what a mistake that had been.
Dinah stared at Harley for a very long uncomfortable moment and while keeping the mental hold in place, she tentatively stepped forward and placed trembling fingers on the woman's shoulder. Her eyes widened in confused disbelief by what she felt. At first all she sensed was a low simmering buzz of something dark hidden in Harley's mind, something Dinah instinctively knew was the dormant madness that had driven Quinn at her darkest and she could feel it fighting to be let loose. She also could feel the very tight leash Harley had on it and against Dinah's will, and she found herself reluctantly impressed by the sheer mental strength the woman must have, but mostly all she felt coming from the doctor was sincere compassion and a mild curiosity. Unless the woman was extremely adept at hiding inside her mind, which Dinah knew was very possible, Harley wasn't lying. At least she didn't believe she was lying and now Dinah was more confused than ever. Why wasn't she running away or pounding the woman into dust?
Dinah narrowed her eyes. "So, I'm just supposed to believe a seriously badass cuckoo who gets off on playing with people, wants to take me, her enemy out for a birthday dinner?" Dinah blurted and then wondered if she was about to be murdered in the street.
Once again, Harley merely laughed at the girl's outspokenness. "Oh, I do like you," she purred as she ran her eyes over the girl she'd just realized was quite striking. And way too young, she reminded herself.
"Why? Because I said you're looney?" Dinah asked, trying not to think of the way those mesmerizing blue eyes examined her and how it made her feel.
"That's part of it," Harley admitted. "I respect honesty, no matter how painful it is. And I admire the fact that you don't trust me. The fact is I have no intention of telling you I've, 'gone straight,' so to speak. I find living outside the law to be somewhat liberating. However," she added, holding up a hand when Dinah started to say something. "I've only been out of Arkham for a couple of days and haven't quite decided what I want to do with myself just yet. So, until then, I'm a semi-normal citizen of New Gotham. I'm also taking my pills like a good girl so I'm reasonably sane. So, what do you say?"
Dinah stood there, picking up no malice from the woman, but given her own talents, Dinah couldn't be sure Harley Quinn wasn't able to block her. "I don't think…" she paused, horrified by her inability to just say no. Something in the beautiful features of the woman watching her without even a hint of impatience confused her. Harley Quinn had made Helena's and Barbara's lives miserable and she'd scared the hell out of Dinah, yet there wasn't even a trace of evil present.
"Come on sweetheart," Harley tempted. "I promise, just a nice quick dinner and I'll help you figure out what you're going to do next."
Dinah froze at the endearment she'd heard Barbara call Helena too many times to count. Barbara had never called her that. No one had that she could remember. Suddenly all the anger and loneliness that had driven her from the Clocktower returned full force and she braced herself and hoped she wasn't about to make a huge mistake.
"Alright," she said as firmly as she could and then suddenly remembering the hold she still held on the other woman, released her will. "I'll go to dinner with you, but it better not be fast food," she said haughtily, even as her lips lifted in a cautious smile.
"Perish the thought," Harley laughed and slid her arm through Dinah's and led her to the limo letting the girl enter first. As she slid in next to Dinah, she deftly pocketed the cellphone she had managed to lift from Dinah's jacket. You've still got it, Harley smirked to herself.
"Sam, please take us to Intermezzo," she told her driver.
"Yes ma'am," Sam replied and then without direction, raised the privacy window.
"Intermezzo?" Dinah asked incredulously. "That's the most expensive restaurant in Gotham," she protested. "I'm not even closed to being dressed up enough to eat there."
Harley again examined the young Dinah. True, her jeans, t-shirt and hooded jacket wouldn't even be allowed past the hostess stand…normally.
"Leave that to me, dear," Harley said with an arrogant but remarkably charming grin.
Dinah couldn't hold back a laugh, finding herself relaxing slightly. Having full confidence in her ability to protect herself if Harley tried something, she let herself appreciate having someone looking out for her. Even if it was a psychopathic criminal.
"Damnit," Barbara swore in frustration as every single lead she found turned into a dead end.
"We'll find her," Gabby said quietly, placing a cautious hand on her former teacher's shoulder. "We have to."
Barbara turned to look at the girl, seeing the sadness and worry in her eyes. "I know Gabby. It will be alright. We'll get her back and fix things. All of us."
Gabby nodded and went back to studying the screens.
"How are you doing, Huntress? Any luck?"
Helena heard Barbara's voice, hating the almost frantic sound of her voice. A tone she rarely heard, especially on comms. Still her own guilt, frustration and worry had her doing something she knew she would regret later.
"Don't you think I would have said something if I was having any luck?" she snapped, cursing her damned short temper when she heard the injured inhalation of Barbara's breath.
"Huntress…"
"I'm sorry Oracle. I didn't mean that," Helena interrupted sincerely, hating to have put the hurt in Barbara's voice. "It's just … I haven't seen any sign of her and I keep getting distracted by the idiots deciding they'd rather mug people for money instead of working for it."
"Alright He…Huntress. I understand. Do you want to come in and rest and get something to eat?"
"I can't. Not until we find Canary."
Barbara was about to reply when her phone rang. Her heart stopped when she saw Dinah's name on the caller ID. "Standby Huntress," she said as she picked up the phone.
"Dinah? Thank God, where…"
"Hello Barbara. I believe I have something of yours."
Barbara fought the urge to throw up when she heard the friendly and all too chilling voice of Harley Quinn. "Quinn. What the hell have you done with Dinah?" she nearly growled, trying to ignore the snarling profanity coming from the woman listening on the other end of the comms.
"Such language for a teacher," Harley teased.
"I don't know how you managed to persuade the parole board to let you out, but I'll make sure you're back in Arkham before you get comfortable and if you harm Dinah in anyway, I'll bury you under it," she growled, absolutely meaning it. She always told Helena and Dinah that they didn't kill, but if Harley Quinn so much as scratched Dinah, she'd make an exception. She'd made a horrible mistake in not telling the young girl how much she meant to her, to all of them and if that psycho bitch tried anything before she could, Barbara wouldn't hesitate to make her pay for it.
Harley snorted. "I'm disappointed in you Barbara," she drawled sarcastically. "It seems you've developed a taste for the melodramatic and I should tell you that it's not really becoming."
"I don't really care what you think about me," Barbara replied hotly. "I want Dinah back. Now!"
Harley rubbed the back of her neck, trying to hold on to her temper. "Just calm down. I have no intention of hurting her. To be honest, I actually quite like her."
Barbara snorted. "That's not really reassuring," she bit out. Just then, the balcony door swung open and Helena nearly ran to her side and tried to grab the phone.
"Helena stop," Barbara ordered, holding the phone away from the agitated woman.
"Quinn, you bitch, where the hell is she?"
Barbara sighed and then put the call on speaker phone knowing there was no way to keep Helena from interfering even as she pulled up the GPS tracking system, trying to trace the signal from Dinah's phone.
"Helena, it's nice to hear your sexy voice," Harley drawled.
"Well excuse me if I'm more than a bit surprised and less than happy to hear yours," Helena snarled, glaring at Barbara, who simply shrugged and mouthed 'later'.
"I'm afraid it's a long story, but I assure you, my release is legitimate and as I told Dinah, I'm not criminally inclined at the moment, although we all know that won't last long."
"I'm going to put you back in Arkham before you have time to become inclined," Helena said angrily.
"Oh, how cute, you and Barbara are even making the same threats. Have you two finally become an official couple then?" Harley retorted lightly.
"None of your fucking business," Helena snapped. "Where's Dinah?"
"As I'm sure the lovely Oracle is already trying to trace the signal for this phone, I'll save her some time and just tell you we're having a late dinner at Intermezzo."
Barbara looked at Helena and nodded, confirming Harley's statement. "You expect us to believe you took Dinah out for a simple dinner?" she scoffed.
"If you call Intermezzo simple, you've obviously never eaten there," Harley commented. "And yes, I do. I saw the poor girl walking the streets earlier and thought she looked a bit despondent so I stopped and we…chatted a bit. She has developed some very interesting powers," she added.
"Get to the point," Helena prodded roughly.
"You really need to work on that impatience of yours dear," Harley replied. "The point is, she mentioned it was her birthday and as I have no plans right now to occupy me, I decided to take her to dinner. And then I stole her phone."
Helena hated the fact that she snorted at the last sentence. If nothing else, Harley had a playfully honest sense of humor that was very difficult to resist. "Why?"
"Because I know she ran off and that you're probably worried. So here I am. I'm letting you know she's with me and remains in perfect health."
Barbara shivered as various scenarios ran through her head. There was something different in Harley's voice she couldn't really identify. If it were anyone else, she'd say it was sincerity.
"Okay fine. Thank you for calling. You can leave Dinah there and we'll be there to pick her up," Barbara said coldly.
"Or you can stay and let me kick your ass," Helena muttered, drawing a glare from Barbara and a lighthearted laugh from Harley.
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to pass on both of those delightful options," Harley said, all traces of humor gone from her voice. "I'm very well that Huntress could easily show up here, beat me within an inch of my life and take Dinah anyway, but I'd advise against it."
"Is that a threat?" Helena asked dangerously.
"Put your claws away little Kitty," Harley said, fighting her own temper. "What I'm trying to tell you is that from what Dinah has told me, which isn't much so you can stop brooding about that, she's not at all happy with you two right now. She's having some major self-esteem issues right now and is feeling lost, alone and quite angry. She needs to be away from you right now. Leave her alone for tonight."
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Barbara shouted.
"Well, psychotic tendencies aside, I'm a trained psychologist," Harley retorted. "Look, as I told her, I have no plans on living a model, law-abiding and utterly boring existence. You know it and I know it. Tweaking the nose of the NGPD is just too entertaining to give it up completely. That being said, I'm not feeling up to any criminal activities the moment. My concern for Dinah is sincere and free from motive."
"How did you even get her to go anywhere with you?" Barbara asked, feeling a tension headache from worry, remorse and confusion, building behind her eyes.
"I let her read me," Harley answered as if that was the dumbest question in the world. "It's a truly remarkable gift she has and it's rather heartbreaking that she hates herself for it."
Helena closed her eyes at that, knowing it was her fault Dinah felt that way. The gasp coming from Gabby told her she wasn't the only one feeling that way.
"So, what exactly is your plan Quinn?" Helena asked shortly. "Ransom?"
Harley sighed. "I do hate repeating myself," she muttered almost as if she was talking to herself. "I told you, I have no ulterior motives in regards to Dinah right now. I bought her dinner and planned to check her into the Gotham City Hotel…alone," she added before the two older women could protest.
"What?" All three women in the Clocktower shouted at once.
"She needs a place to stay," Harley explained. "Just leave her alone tonight and then go see her tomorrow."
"That's unacceptable," Barbara answered.
"That's your only option I'm afraid. You know, I didn't have to call and tell you anything."
"True," Barbara reluctantly agreed.
"I'm going to check her into a suite at the hotel and I will have her call you. Satisfied?"
"Not by a long shot," Helena answered shortly.
"Maybe you should talk to Barbara about that," Harley said suggestively.
"I expect a call from Dinah in one hour," Barbara said, ignoring Harley's innuendo. "I'll know if she's feeling threatened, no matter what she may say to the contrary."
"Really? Just like you knew how upset she's been?"
Barbara couldn't prevent the flinch at the not so subtle dig. "One hour, Quinn."
Harley chuckled. "One hour. And Helena, I have no doubt you'll be lingering outside of the restaurant and peeking in the windows. We'll be where you can see us but do try not to be too obvious. I have a feeling that of the two of you, Dinah is the least interested in talking to you."
Helena exhaled sharply as Harley disconnected. "God," she said shoving her fingers through her hair and pacing agitatedly.
"She's wrong Hel," Barbara said quietly, watching the young woman with concern.
"No, she's not," Helena said sadly. "We can say a lot of things about Harley Quinn or Harleen Quinzel…whichever one she's posing as this time, but she is nothing if not brutally honest. I think it's because she finds it more amusing that way."
"So, you believe her that she's not going to hurt Dinah?"
Helena looked at Barbara, longing to take her in her arms and ease the pain on her face, but she remembered Dinah's friend who was watching them curiously and held back.
"I do. If she were up to something, she would have taken great pleasure in throwing it in our faces. As I said, brutal honesty is her favorite past time."
Barbara sighed and sat back in her chair. "We don't really have a choice but to believe her. At least we know that Dinah is strong enough to sense if Quinn is planning something and defend herself."
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to do just what she said I'd do. I'm going to go to Intermezzo and keep an eye on them. I'll make sure Dinah stays safe even if I have to camp outside her hotel room all night."
"She'll know you're there Hel," Barbara reminded her.
"Oh. Well we'll figure out something after she calls and you figure out if she really does feel safe."
"Be careful Helena," Barbara said seriously. "I don't trust Quinn for a second."
"I don't trust her either, but believe me. Dinah will never see me," Helena said and then grinned. "You more than anyone know how sneaky I can be."
Barbara chuckled. Knowing where Dinah is had taken a lot of the stress off, even if knowing who she was with made her queasy. "That I do. You've given me several small heart attacks over the years."
Unable to resist, Helena leaned down to whisper in Barbara's ear. "Once we have Dinah back, I plan on trying to give you a lot more than that." She placed a gentle kiss on a blazing red cheek and then shot out of the Clocktower to keep watch over her canary.
