At 11:52, Joseph was relieved of his duties in the high-security hall. It was time for him to sign out and head to the parking lot. From there, he would spend a few minutes searching for his car. He was used to driving in the black Honda, but Sheryl had won that in the settlement. He was left with an old pickup he bought from a friend. A piece of junk that would drive him home to his one-bedroom apartment in shame. In his place came Andrea. She was an older woman. Late fifties, a head of thick grey hair. A tough old bird. She had her life together. Her husband was a police officer near retirement. He died four years before in a run-in with Falconi's men. They had three children, all in their thirties, and ten grandchildren. Though she had worked within the walls of Arkham for upwards of ten years, the Joker had yet to make her acquaintance.
Andrea silently stepped into the hallway. The door slowly closed behind her, gears clanking shut. She made her way down the hall, and back up once more. She would pace back and forth three times before leaning against the wall near the door.
Inside of his cell, the Joker was in a different world. His eyes rolled about in their sockets. At 12:18 he was at the peak of an absurd dream, the likes of which he would never recall. Not that he would ever have a need or desire to. Were someone in the room with him with the lights on, they would notice a bit of color leaving the flesh of his face. His skin was a pale peach, a bit blotchy from cosmetic abuse. It had been ages since he had his tribal paint. His hair had grown out since it was last dyed green. A good three inches of dark-blond was visible near the greasy roots. His scars were all that kept him looking like more than a human, even in his sedated state.
A hack. A wheeze and another hack. At around 12:30, Dr. Crane went into a coughing fit. Those who were without sleep medication awoke drowsy and angered. The Joker was not among this lot. Andrea, with the patience of a saint, calmly made her way to the doctor's cell.
She spoke softly, doing her best to not disturb the others. "Jonathan, are you going to be a-"
"Son of a whore!"
"What's going on? What's happening?"
"Oh dear lord why me why?!" It was a chime of voices that sounded like they were banning together for a mutiny against Dr. Crane.
"Oh, yes, An-" before he could finish speaking, Dr. Crane was overcome once more with a hacking cough. This is when the Joker stirred. He did not slowly awaken, his senses taking a while to catch up with his body. Rather, he opened his eyes, almost immediately sitting up. Was this honestly happening? Was this sick delusional freak actually waking him up in the middle of the night?
"Alright, everyone, calm down." Andrea's voice was that of a stern grandparent. It sent a wave of loathing through the Joker's veins. Most of the patients were already getting back to bed. A few continued to ramble on. "It's going to be alright, just go ahead and get some sleep. We'll take care of Jonathan."
Another cough. The Joker stood. Slowly, deliberately. Step by step he made his way to the door. He could hear the screeching static of Andrea's walkie-talkie as she called for one of the nurses. The chill on the ground felt like a coolant had been spilled across the concrete. It felt liked the kin of cold from around 1:00 in the morning, but the Joker wished he had a watch to double check. Something to let him know exactly when it was Crane had dared to wake him up.
"Doctor? Doctor Crane?" The Joker leaned his forehead against the door. He could see through the bars, the harsh lighting an eyesore. He waited for a response and was rewarded with a hack. "Doctor Crane, really-"
"That's enough." Andrea interrupted the Joker with a stern tone.
"You know," the Joker shook his head slightly, putting his hands on the door. He tried to adjust his head so he could see the woman, but to no avail. "It is just the darndest thing. I don't even KNOW you, and yet I have this-this sudden urge to eviscerate you. Is that a bit odd? Hmm?" Andrea began to walk towards the Joker's cell slowly, her foot steps like those of a soldier. Though the Joker continued to sneer, his mind was grinning with absolute glee. "I mean here I am trying to have a polite convers-"
There was a quick boom of a knock at the door. Andrea pivoted and made her way to open the metal beast. A nurse entered the room. He was younger, on the handsome side. His nametag said "Robert," though he looked like more of a Prince William. With him were two guards. One held a straight jacket, the other a loaded riffle. The Joker listened as Dr. Crane's door was opened. He could hear the cloth straps of the straight jacket tightening. He could hear Crane's feet shuffling as he was escorted out of his cell, hacking and coughing all the while.
"Call my secretary in the morning," the doctor called back. A hack, and he cleared his throat. "She'll get you an appointment."
The Joker licked his lower lip as Dr. Crane was escorted out of the hallway. He remained at his cell door, fingers running up and down its secure frame.
"I uh…I would like to file a complaint." He cleared his throat. "Guard, I would like to…file a complaint."
Andrea closed the latch of the hall door. A few patients mumbled about the Joker continuing to disturb their peace.
"Excuse me," she responded once she was in front of the Joker's cell. She was a shorter woman, and had to look up in order to see into the opened slot.
"I said I would like to file a-"
"Sir, I advise you to get back into your bed."
The Joker tensed. He narrowed his eyes, his fingers crept up to the opening of the door. "Miss?" He licked his bottom lip quickly.
"Return to your bed b-"
"What time is it?" He closed his eyes, flustered. Words were beginning to fail him.
"Get back in bed." Andrea lowered her voice. She stared up at the Joker, able to see his eyebrows and hairline.
"You are…the single most INFURIATING woman…I have yet to meet." The Joker opened his eyes. He tilted his head slowly to the right. "That is the SECOND time, alright the second time…that I've just tried to…ask one little question."
"I need you to get back in bed. Right…now." Her voice shook the slightest bit. That was all the Joker needed to hear.
He wrapped on the door once with his knuckles before turning. He leaned his back against the door for a few moments before standing upright. He took two steps towards his bed before turning his head towards the door the slightest bit. He could hear the shuffle of the guard's feet as she turned to return to her post.
"Oh, miss."
Andrea stopped. She wanted to ignore him, but knew she couldn't. More importantly, he knew she couldn't.
"Just so there aren't any more misunderstandings like this between you and I…" He smirked and licked his upper lip. "I'm going to kill you."
His words were followed by silence. Both remained with their feet planted. It was a contest. Who would be the first to fold to the tension and move? The Joker was well-aware of this contest. It was beyond him whether or not Andrea knew about it.
She did not know. And she was the first to take steps back to her proper place.
The Joker smiled and walked back to his bed. Now, at what felt to be 1:30, he decided he actually was going to kill her.
It was 1:37. The Joker sat on his bed. His eyes had wandered around in the darkness for a good five minutes. He sighed softly and lied down, resting his head on his pillow. He pulled the sheet back over himself, covering his arms and hugging them to himself.
He had quite the to-do list.
