This one's a bit long … I promised some good stuff in Ch 4 so I had to fit a lot into CH 3

Thanks to Coldplay for Viva la Vida

It was weeks before Rebelle was finally allowed to go to groups .Groups we're mandatory, if you didn't go to groups you didn't leave you're room. You didn't even get out to see your Doctor .The doctor came to you. You just stayed in that tiny cell 24/7 , the only respite being a weekly shower .

The Joker sat swinging his feet in a circle of folding chairs. The room looked like it had been decorated sometime in the 1970s complete with run down wood paneling and shaggy green carpet. Joker smiled ,a truly genuine smile ,and hummed his new favorite song

"…I used to roll the dice

Feel the fear I my enemy's eyes…"

He looked around impatiently .No one was here yet . He was a BIT early he thought as he continued his song.

"…It was a wicked and a wild wind

Blew open the doors to let me in

Shattered windows and the sound of drums

People couldn't believe what I'd become …."

Finally the Doctor entered ,followed closely by the former Dr . Crane . Dr Crane seemed to want to believe his opinion still mattered here …or that he could redeem himself in the hospital's eyes …

'FAT CHANCE ' Joker thought.

Little by little other patients ,mostly nameless psychos , began to file in. He Stared at the door sitting bolt upright every time it began to open , only to be disappointed .He thought it was going to be another boring session until he heard the door creak one more time .

"I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing

Roman Cavalry choirs singing…"

Rebelle pushed open the heavy oak door ,

her little curvy body stretched with the effort .Her red head hanging down like she wished she was invisible .

Joker leaned over and patted a seat coyly ,the last seat in the circle . The one right next to his .

Rebelle's eyes went wide, she looked at the Dr to save her but he just smiled ,seemingly oblivious .

Rebelle stood for a moment before the Dr. finally said " please, have a seat . "

She walked quickly. Her head down, arms crossed over her large breasts and took her seat next to the Joker who tilted his head and smiled sweetly.

"… be my mirror my sword and shield

My missionary in the foreign field…"

Then he dropped his gaze, just for a moment ,to her poorly concealed assets . Just to make her uncomfortable … it worked.

He flicked his eyes up and met hers , licking his lips .A shiver went down her spine ,but she didn't look away . She couldn't let him know how much he scared her.

"Shall we begin?" The Dr. asked

He looked over at Rebelle " we have a new addition here today .Rebelle , I'm Dr . Frankel welcome "

Everyone looked at her ,she shot her eyes around the room and looked down again.

"Rebelle, why don't you tell us what brought you here ?"

" ummm, I'd like to wait if you don't mind " she said

" why may I ask ?" Dr. Frankel said with a look of concern she doubted was real.

" ummmm, I'm the only woman in this wing ." she said looking as if she were shrinking

" and … I feel ummm, out of place …and a little " she hesitated a moment " scared " she said her eyes darting over to The Joker .

" Being the only woman here isn't something that's likely to change anytime soon." Dr Frankel said " Remember , everyone is here because they deserve to be . Man or woman ." Rebelle rolled her eyes at this . " as for safety , the 2 guards currently at the door ,not to mention the others we have on staff , manage to keep things calm."

" they don't even carry guns " Rebelle said under her breath noting the Taser, Baton and mace they DID carry ." Guns are a safety hazard " Dr Frankel said " Please , tell us about yourself . The first time is always hardest "

Rebelle looked around the room .She was surrounded by men who ,for the most part ,looked like they belonged more in a prison than a hospital. Many of them had tattoos that had obviously been done in prison, lighting bolts ,187's…thanks to history channel she knew what these meant. They meant these men were killers, some of them white supremacists as well. How could she 'deserve ' to be here ?

The room was silent ,finally a cough from Dr. Frankel got her started

" I was coming home from a show "she said quietly "my son's Dad , Casey , had been watching him "

She stopped a moment " I came in the back, there was a movie on …it was porn, Casey was in his boxers ,he looked…excited . I saw my son sitting next to him…" she trailed off

"You see " she said ,her voice high like she was trying to explain to mommy why she'd broken a rule "

" Casey was abused by his own father …never mind how he treated me " she trailed off darkly " I couldn't take it , the thought of him hurting my son ..so I grabbed the bat I keep next to the door, for protection …"

She trailed off again.

" Was your son ok ?" Dr. Crane burst in " It's not time for patients to ask questions yet Jonathan " DR Frankel said .A look of annoyance crossed Dr. Cranes handsome face .Rebelle wondered if he was gay .

" he was ok. The police told me he wasn't abused , I was lucky. I'm always very careful.. I watch everything. I don't trust anybody "

" how old is your son ?" Dr. Frankel asked

" 12 she said ' adding "I was a teenager when I had him , My mother had just died and ..I didn't really value virginity "she said with a rebellious tone."

'Maybe ..27?' Joker thought .' she looks younger '

" why didn't you call the police ? Why take the law into your own hands ? You wouldn't be here if you'd just trusted in the system " Dr Frankel said

" nothing had happened yet …. He wouldn't do any time . Even if something HAD happened he'd only get 5 yrs …. There's no justice for child molesters " she spat " I wasn't going to let Devon think I didn't love him. That I'd let someone get away with .. That "

' interesting …' Joker thought careful to keep his body still ,his head straight as his eyes looked sidelong at her .' we're learning more and more about little Rebelle '

" you know that from …personal experience ?" Dr Frankel said ,asking the question the Joker was thinking

" …who cares " her voice cracked.

'YES' Joker mouthed ,arousing a few smiles .

He turned his head ,letting her know he was watching her .Soaking up the fear he felt . He knew it was more than fear though, It was always the same with women . The ones who'd been abused were the worst …she was going to be all kinds of fun. He smiled at her with mock innocence She swallowed ,he could see her trying not to look at him. From this angle her face was soft and round ,like a lost little girl … a moment before it was all hard angles , a tiny Amazon …. all kinds of fun!

A Beefy guy with 187 tattooed on his hand spoke up when patients were finally allowed

" you did the right thing . The only justice short eyes get is the justice they get in prison. " several patients nodded "I think you're a good mom "… This made her feel a bit better ,but she wasn't sure if a killer who'd obviously been in and out of prison's opinion should make her feel better .

As group ended the Joker leaned over and placed a hand on her knee .

" all it takes is one bad day " he said " I've been there , I know " he said licking his lips as per usual .

For one second he thought he saw a look of empathy cross her face before it was replaced with fear once again . Joker Giggled as she left the room, very quietly . The game was afoot!

--Suddenly groups were like a great detective story . What were Rebelle's weaknesses? What buttons could be pushed … how useful could she be to him ?

"… You see Joker was a natural choice " he said " I mean I already had the smile " he said demonstrating .

Rebelle rolled her eyes and harrumphed .

" you have something to say about John's experience?" Dr Frankel said , obviously annoyed

" I can't believe you don't see he's playing you!" she said her voice rising " he's just telling you what you want to hear … and what's with 'John '? Is that supposed to be his name ?"

Dr Frankel took his glasses off , Dr Crane smiled intrigued and the others just sat back .

" That's very interesting Rebecca " he said using her Given Name " You see John isn't ready to share his name with us ,until he is we call him John ,or John Doe as he's listed in our records." he said." But since you brought it up, you and John have something in common .You both have alternate Identities "

" I don't have an alternate identity " she said

"What would you call Rebelle ?" he asked

" Rebelle's a stage name , it's not the same thing " she said surprised he'd even think to compare her the Joker.

Meanwhile the Joker looked at her with a hurt expression, playing into everything Dr. Frankel expected him to be .

"OH ?" Dr Frankel asked " so dressing up in a strange outfit, using a strange name , and even creating a fantasy about yourself isn't what John did as the Joker ?"

" it's called marketing " she said

" it's a little more than that . Isn't it Rebecca ?"

She flushed bright red ." So I tell myself a story that makes me feel better ? It doesn't hurt anyone ."

"What's that story ?" DR Crane asked , Dr Frankel said nothing just looking at Rebelle .

" That I have a guardian angel … or devil . Someone who protects me .. It's just a story. Something I believed as a child " She said "I had a hard childhood… It was a comfort "

" you don't believe it now ?" Frankel asked

" Sometimes" she said quietly " it's better than the truth …as I said it doesn't hurt anyone "

"this relates to your belief in the occult ?" The Dr asked

" If she could have gotten redder she would have " yes … a lot of people believe in the occult " she said

" a lot of people aren't in Arkham" The Dr. answered .

Joker caught up with her on the way out , he leaned over whispering in her ear " I guess we're just 2 of a kind " he laughed " Oooo hoo hoo HA ha ha "

She didn't say anything ,she just set her jaw and continued walking .

"don't pretend ya don't like me" he said shaking a finger at her " I know ya do "

" I don't !"she said stopping to stamp her foot " oooohhhhhh hoo hoo " he laughed " of course you do ,look at you… I'm all you think about ."

She didn't say anything ..she just walked.

He was all charisma .All the patients looked up to him. The Doctors believed in him, in his progress . After all he was a super star . A maniacal anarchist with a personality you couldn't help but notice . He was every serial killer women threw themselves at .A Famous bad boy …she did like him, and she hated him too. He was every evil thing that had every happened to her wrapped in a glorious show stopping package . She was sick and she knew it .

" you like being hurt ..don't you " he growled " I can tell "he said licking his lips

It was like being hit on by Johnny Depp combined with Jack the Ripper ..and she'd been abused just enough to like it .

You're everything I Hate " she said "Everyone who ever hurt me . Every one I dream of destroying ."

" oooooo …… I love it " he growled

She closed her mouth walking as fast as she could to the safety of her room

" they're letting your kid visit pretty soon huh ? …" he asked "OOOh hoo hoo … that'll be fun"