Chapter 3

She had been working at Arkham for a few weeks now, slowly settling into a routine of constant security checks, though honestly sometimes she wondered how Arkham was a max security facility. A lot of the security cameras didn't work and only recorded film in black and white without sound. A lot of the guards seemed unreliable and she knew a few were corrupt, but so far no major incidents had happened.

She walked into the break room with her coffee and sandwiches to eat, sitting doen on one of the red, moth bitten sofas.

"Hi Harleen, how's it going?" Dr Draymond asked as he smiled at her, blue eyes twinkling.

"Its alright, one of my patients keeps threatening to cut my face, but I suppose that comes with the job here" she smiled at him.

He laughed lightly.

"Yeah I had a patient draw pictures of how he was going to cut of certain body parts and sew on animal body parts. It was pretty disturbing how detailed they were" he said grinning at her and their morbid sense of humour.

"You get used to it but you still need to be careful" he said shrugging and getting more serious. "If you feel like you're ever in real danger, don't hesitate to let the guards know though, or me" he grinned again "I'll come running to your rescue" earnest blue eyes smiling at her from a boyishly handsome face, blonde hair curling around his head in a halo.

She laughed along with him, slightly irked that he assumed she would need rescuing, or that he believed he could do anything, but she knew it stemmed from a good-natured will to help others so she let it slide. Dr Draymond was a sweet guy, flirty sometimes, but she knew he was holding out for the One. It was very sweet altogether and she wasn't sure how he had ended up working in Arkham but here he was, up beat as always.

"Did you hear though? The bat came by last night to deliver a new patient for us"

"Oh, who?" she said feigning interest, it wasn't uncommon for Batman to bring people straight to Arkham, sometimes they were simply kept here be transferred to Blackgate as it was closer to wherever he had caught them or someone he thought needed psychiatric help. It was exciting at first, but lost its novelty quickly as none of them ever got to see the Bat.

"The Joker" he said conspiratorially leaning in.

She froze, jerking her head around to look at him wide-eyed and speechless.

"I know" he said nodding, mistaking her expression for fear "he's really fucked up, I wouldn't even know how to begin treating him, or even diagnosing him. And he's been here a couple of times before, I heard last time he beat his psychiatrist to death before the guards could get to him. He's been through so many psychiatrists, a lot of them give up or quit the job completely" lowering his voice he leaned in "and I hear a lot of them get found dead somewhere, he's a fascinating case and I'm a bit curious but I'm not sure I want to find out"

"I do" the words were out of her mouth before she realised what she'd said.

He looked at her surprised, "that's brave of you, I suppose you're braver than me then" he grinned at her boyishly before saying "I need to go now, I have a session with a patient but good luck and if you do get assigned the Joker, be safe"

"I will, thanks and good luck with your patient" she smiled at him, her heart racing, struggling to keep calm. He nodded at her, walking out and leaving her alone in the break room.

Overwhelmed, she struggled to think, she had been woken up by him laughing last night but had shrugged it off before going back to sleep. She hadn't thought shed get this close to him for a long time. She wasn't ready, oddly now that she knew she was in the same building as him, it was like she was suddenly aware of his presence though she knew she was imagining it.

She hadn't asked to review his file ye, but what better way to get it than if he was here and someone had his case, she could ask to help out… or even take his case herself. But did she want that, to meet him face to face? Would he recognise her? She needed to go home and think, no need to do anything rash today, if he came in last night, they be doing security and getting him settled today before assigning him a psychiatrist tomorrow.

Slowing her heart rate, she forced herself to finish her sandwich before she went to her office to review her next case and start her session.

Exciting the room where she had just seen her patient, she walked down the corridor, heels clicking while she scribbled adjustments to her patient's medication when she heard it.

That distinct laughter that followed her everywhere, it sounded so close. It was coming closer she realised, ahead of her and around the corner. She could hear the squeaky wheels of a gurney and the many footsteps of the guards before they came around the corner.

There he was, strapped down on the gurney by his ankles and wrists, even around his waist. Rolling his head from side to side and laughing like he was enjoying every moment of it. The gleeful sound erupting louder and louder before one guard angrily used his baton to bash the Joker's stomach "Shut up you freak" he yelled, cutting off the Joker in the middle of his laughter.

Protective anger surged in her and she just barely managed to stop herself from launching herself at the guard while struggling to keep Harley in check who seemed to burst out in rage, wanting to jump at the guard and beat him senseless with his baton.

The Joker snarled at him, displaying metal-capped teeth before grinning at the guard, his eyes burning into him. He didn't say anything, no threat, but Harleen got he distinct impression that the guard had just signed his death warrant.

As they got closer to her she stepped aside to let them pass and the Joker's eyes flickered to her. The intense cobalt blue captivated her, she couldn't look away and felt something inside her snap into place, a tiny sliver of connection to him. His face was completely expressionless but his eyes remained on hers, scrutinising her as much as she was him as they wheeled him away and then turned a corner.

When he was gone from view she released a breath she didn't even know she had been holding. If she'd had any doubt that he was he fated partner, it died in a shrivelled heap in that moment.

It was impossible to mistake his laughter for anything but the one in her head and since shed been so aware of him and the possible connection, shed felt the tiny string fall into place after seeing him, if she hadn't known beforehand, she probably would have missed it. Did he feel it to? He had been watching her, ignoring the guard. Did he know? She hadn't spoken so he couldn't have recognised her voice.

Maybe now it was time to back out, he was dangerous, she was certain that the guard who beat him would wind up dead or missing soon, she didn't want to be added to that list and who knows how he would react when he found out who she was to him.

And she had a good thing going, she had kept her promise to her mother all these years, even after she passed, if she jumped down this rabbit hole now, there was no coming back.

The next day, decision made, she had her letter of resignation in her bag, it wasn't odd for a doctor at Arkham to quit abruptly and she would find another job somewhere else. This was the best thing to do, cut him form her life and move somewhere else.

She sat in her car trying to keep Harley suppressed; she had been more active in trying to take control than anytime before since that day. She had even spent 2 hours last night on her gymnastics but it didn't help as well as usual.

She adjusted her glasses and tied her hair up before leaving her car and walking into Arkham, immediately making her way to Warden Sharp's office. Knocking on the door, she mentally prepared what she was going to say.

"Come in" she opened the door and walked in, he looked up at her and smiled "Ah exactly the person I wanted to see, you wont believe what happened" she could hear the excitement in his voice.

"The Joker has requested you to be his psychiatrist!" it felt like the floor dropped out beneath her, paling slightly she said "What do you mean? How does he even know who I am?"

"He saw you yesterday in the corridor, he read you name tag and has been insisting on being treated by Dr Quinnzel. Do you know what this could mean? Countless doctors have treated him, but he's been uncooperative and nothing has been successful before. This is the first time he's actively made any contribution towards getting treatment; this could be the breakthrough we needed." Getting more excited and carried away by the idea that Arkham you treat the Joker successfully and the possible publicity and funding it would bring.

"This is also a great opportunity for you" he said seemingly getting pulled back into the present "if you manage to be successful with such a high profile case, it could boost your career, you'd be able to go far after this. What do you say?"

"Yes" Harley blurted out, before Harleen shoved her down, instantly locking her away in the back of her mind. Shaken that Harley had managed to come to the fore, Harley hadn't been in control since she was 14; nothing had broken her control before.

"Excellent, I'll send his file over from the archives and you can go through it, take you time to sort through it. Ill have one of you patients switched to another doctor and then you can have your first session with the Joker tomorrow"

Harleen just nodded and the rest went by in a blur, before she knew it she was sitting in her office staring at the file in front of her. The manila envelope had the joker written on the side; otherwise it looked so ordinary, like every other patient file.

She couldn't believe this was happening, yesterday she was still thinking about how to get this file and whether or not she should ever mean the clown king of crime. And now she was meeting him for an hourly session tomorrow.

Part of her was excited and nervous, she wondered what he was really like, she hadn't thought about what to say or do yet. She sighed leaning back closing her eyes and inhaled the scent of the mildew and sweetness from the flower that had just opened on her potted plant. She wasn't even sure what kind of plant it was, but it had been on sale and seemed to survive just fine with watery every 2 days.

Opening her eyes she sat forwards and opened the file. Time to start planning a course of action.

Her heels clicked on the floor as she walked down the corridor towards the room she would be having her session with the Joker in. she had driven herself to near exhaustion with gymnastics this morning, having woken up earlier than usual, unable to sleep.

Undecided about what to wear she had unerringly worn a formfitting black dress under her lab coat, slightly shorter than her other work outfits. She knew it leaned more towards sexy than appropriate, but she was wearing a lab coat over the top so she told herself it didn't matter.

She had planned out this meeting in detail, she was going to make absolutely sure that Harley didn't make an appearance and that she was in control of the situation. Calm and professional, not breaking character a single time no matter what happened.

Approaching the guards standing outside the room, they nodded in welcome and one of them, Mr Hanson said "he's already inside, but be careful, he's a tricky freak, do you want us inside with you or are you aright alone?"

Tempering the flicker of anger at having him called a freak she smiled at him "I think I'll be alright thanks, its best to give the impression of a trusting atmosphere, that's hard to do with guards hovering over your shoulder"

He nodded "I thought you'd say that, but just offering, if anything happens, just yell or press your panic button, we'll be right there"

"Alright then" she took a deep breath and opened the door stepping inside.

He was siting there in a straitjacket, feet shackled together and eyes watching her intently. He didn't make a sound or move as she walked closer and sat down opposite him at the table.

Setting down her clipboard and files, she looked up at him. His green hair was brushed back, not a hair out of place and the clownish makeup was perfectly done. But it was his eyes that entranced her, deep blue and staring at her with guarded intelligence.

"Hello, I'm Dr Quinnzel, since you requested me, I'll be your psychiatrist from now on, since we don't know your real name is it alright with you if I call you the Joker or is there something else you'd like be to call you?"

Silence, he didn't move a muscle and continued to stare at her.

"Alright, the Joker it is, now then, since you were assigned to me yesterday, I've read up on your file and history. You've been to Arkham several times before and seen several Psychiatrists, who have made numerous different diagnoses and attempted many different courses of treatment. Would you say that any of your previous diagnoses were correct or that any treatment or medication ahs helped you in anyway?"

Not a single muscle moved. His expression was so still, only his breathing indicated he was still alive.

"Ok then, if you remember anything in the future or want to let me know of something you'd prefer to try, please let me know anytime." she looked down at the file in front of me, needing to break eye contact to refocus and concentrate.

"I see that they restarted you on the same medications you were on before you escaped last time but since you're my patient now I'd like to form my own opinion for a diagnoses and treatment, so for now I'll be taking you off all your medication, except for your sleeping tablets, but those will be voluntary. The only confirmed diagnoses you have is insomnia so if you feel you need sleeping tablets, please let the guards know before you go to sleep and they'll bring a nurse to give you your sleeping tablet. Does that sound aright to you?"

She looked up to meet his gaze. He still didn't move, but the intensity in his eyes seemed to have increased somehow, almost like they were looking right into her soul.

"For now we will be seeing each other 3 times a week for hourly sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, during which time we'll talk and I'll try to find a diagnosis and eventually some up with a treatment plan for you, does that sound ok?"

Still no response, he was like a living statue.

"Alright then" she closed her files and moved them to the side picking up her clipboard and pen, she sat back and looked back at him.

They both continued to scrutinise each other. Oddly she was beginning to calm down, nervousness ebbing away as she watched him.

After a moment of silence she said, "So how does it feel to be back at Arkham?"

Not really expecting an answer she was surprised when he leaned back, a grin beginning to curl his lips up, exposing the metal on his teeth. He was trying to unnerve her but strangely she didn't find it off-putting.

"Well doc" he drawled slowly "I have a feeling this time will be much more exciting than the other times" he started laughing to himself, full-throated laughter, throwing his head back.

She couldn't stop a smile twitching at her lips, there was something so reassuring and freeing about the way he laughed. Like nothing could stop him. She waited for his laughter to die down and meet her eyes again.

"What would make you think that then?" she asked.

His eyes left hers and slowly roamed down her body, perusing what he could see over the table, lingering on her breasts before making their way back up to her eyes. She struggled not to shiver or blush but the feeling of his eyes on her made heart beat faster and heat pool in her stomach.

"Just a feeling I've got" he grinned. For a second she wasn't sure if he knew or not, he hadn't reacted when he'd heard her voice, but that didn't mean anything, he could just be an exceptional actor, or maybe he hadn't realised yet and was simply attracted to her

A lot of people speculated he had schizophrenia and heard voices. There had been studies confirming that such people often had difficulty distinguishing the voice of their fated one from the other voices in their head. So it was possible he was only attracted to her and hadn't realised who she was.

She calmed, for now he probably didn't know, and unless he gave her good indication otherwise, she would assume he was unaware, which she could use to her advantage.

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