Without any hesitation, Batman ordered an interrogation room. Gordon and Batman stood outside the door of the room where a man with a changeless mask like face with burning hate filled eyes sat waiting.

'How did you find him?' Batman said, extremely curious.

'We didn't,' Gordon answered 'He slipped through the gates and started bashing on the front doors.'

'He's just signed his own death wish.' Batman growled.

Batman and Jim Gordon entered the room. Batman shut the door behind them, keeping both eyes on the Joker. Gordon stood beside the door and The Joker's grin grew wider as Batman approached the table. Batman glared down at him but The Joker wasn't intimidated.

'You really do know how to take people by surprise.' Batman said, pulling out a chair at the opposite end of the table and sitting down.

'It's my job.' The Joker answered cheerfully.

'Not much of a living.'

'The fun consequences of other people's misfortunes are what pays off, Batsie.' The Joker replied smoothly.

'What's the deal, Joker? You've finally woken up to the terror you've spread these last seven years or you just miss the cafeteria food?'

The Joker gave a small chuckle. 'I know how much it means to you to see me get locked up and the key thrown away. I'm here now without a court order, so I don't have to stay. Just a little bit of fun that's all.'

'I'm afraid to inform you that you've crossed the court order boundary.' Gordon spoke up. 'The law said we can keep you here against your will.'

'Bummer.' The Joker said sarcastically.

'Now, what are you really here for? You know about that law,' Batman said, impatiently. 'You bragged about it the last time you were rehabilitated.'

The Joker frowned. 'After you literally dropped by, getting involved in personal matters, I knew I couldn't stay in the same place for too long. It's getting personal now, isn't it, Bats?' The Joker moved closer over the table, lowering his voice.

'So why come here?' Batman asked, unmoved.

'You have something of mine and I want it back.' The Joker's tone turned serious.

'You speak of her like she is an object.' Batman said in disgust.

'Isn't she?' The Joker said grinning, leaning back on his chair.

'She doesn't want to see you.'

'And you've paid that much attention to her to know that have you? I've seen you, off doing your little deeds and letting these pathetic white coats take care of the kid. They won't get anything useful out of her.' The Joker's mocking eyes burned into Batman's.

'I've paid enough attention to learn what really happened at the casino that night. One thing I don't understand is, what was the reason for killing those three civilians?'

The Joker shrugged. 'Just got in the way of the punch line.'

Batman fought off the urge to rip the wide grin off the clown's face. He stood up and turned to leave.

'You're not going to keep me away from her.' He heard the Joker say behind him. Batman sighed. 'Take him away, Gordon.'

The Joker was restrained while the doctor's injected him with a special fatigue serum just in case he decided to make a runner. It was a long walk down the familiar cold corridors to his usual cell in the south-wing. The inmates didn't dare to scream anything out. They all knew too well that the Joker was perfectly capable of making a house call in the early hours. Not for pleasurable reasons either.

'Where are we going brainiac?' The Joker snapped at Gordon. 'My cell's back that way.'

'You have a new room on the second floor.' Gordon explained. 'With the help of a very large donation, we're able to keep people like you in properly for life.'

'Maximum security. I'm liking the sound of this challenge already.' The Joker smirked. 'I need a place to stay anyway.'

'That's not the start of it.' Gordon said, smiling. 'Your first challenge is all these stairs.' The Joker's face fell. The serum was kicking in quicker than he liked.

He woke up hours later, in a small, cold solitary confinement cell. Nothing was different, small bed in the corner, small metal sink and toilet and three dim sensor wall lights. He had to laugh. Someone had put pads around the legs on the bed. He sat up and rubbed his head.

'Hmmm, strong stuff.' He looked around his orange coloured room. 'This is cosy.' He jumped as a small door at the bottom of his cell door opened and a metal tray of food slid loudly across the floor.

'THANKS, BUT I DON'T LIKE CAT FOOD.' He yelled.

'You don't want to eat, fine. When the docs come around this evening on their rounds, they'll pick it up, Chuckles.' The guard answered back.

The Joker looked down at the food. A grin spread across his face as a brainstorm brewed. 'Oh yes…I'm sure they will.'

The morning came. Harley refused breakfast and stopped responding in therapy sessions. Leland was the only psychiatrist Harley seemed to respond to the most yet sessions never lasted very long. Harley usually ended up screaming at her and Leland would have to end it there.

Leland slammed Harley's door and locked it behind her. She leant against it and sighed.

'That worked.' Batman said sarcastically.

'Yes, I'm fine.' Leland answered back. She rubbed her eyes with her forefinger and thumb. 'I have one more trick up my sleeve. I decided I'm going to go ahead with the role-play session. I wasn't originally going to go ahead with it because when the actors heard who they were going to portray…'

'They wanted to be paid double?' Batman guessed.

'Exactly.'

'After that?'

'If that doesn't have any effect, it's back to the drawing board. I was thinking about it last night and I thought of something else.'

'What do you have in mind?'

'Later…I just want to see how things are after the session.'

Harley spun around on the office chair she had stolen from one of the doctors participating in the role-plays. Today was the first day of her visual therapy sessions. She watched the role-plays put on for other patients. They consisted of short scenes of common offence flashbacks like substance abuse and bashings when they were younger. Then came the first killing or dangerous obsession. Harley watched some of the patients relive their past experiences and break down. Others it had no effect on at all. Finally two different actors entered the room. The male had a green wig, messy clown make-up and a navy blue suit. The woman had a similar outfit to Harley's jester outfit.

'HEY! I ain't startin' some trend honey. Get your own style.' Harley yelled out.

'Calm down, Harleen,' The doctor said calmly 'She isn't stealing your look. This is just an act.' Harley started pulling at her pigtails, slightly annoyed. The actors became nervous and were waiting for an invite to start and quickly finish what they were being paid double to do.

'You may begin.'

'HELEN, you stupid girl! You can't do anything right! What are you good for?' The male actor screamed in a high-pitched voice at the woman. He raised his hand to her and pretended to slap her around. The woman put her hands up in defence.

'I'm sorry Mr.G. I didn't mean to let The Nightman get away!' The female actress cried. The actor grabbed the actress' arms and snarled in her face. By this time, Harley had stopped spinning, fidgeting and complaining. She sat up straight and watched intensely. Mr. G pushed Helen backwards. Helen stumbled and melodramatically fell onto her backside.

'Arkham was just around the corner tonight if I hadn't have set the dogs onto Nightman! The only thing you do right is cutting my hair…you actually did a good job, thank you.' Harley cocked her head. All this was slightly familiar, but she didn't want to believe it.

'Thank you.' The white coat said, not looking up from what he was scribbling down on his clipboard. The actors sighed and little and the male helped the female up off the ground. Harley bit her lip at this and watched the actors leave. She was escorted back to her room. She didn't say a word. Leland was standing with Phillips at her door.

'I…I can't believe what I just saw.' Harley said. Leland took Harley into her room and sat her down on the bed.

'Did you understand what was happening in the role-play Harley? Do you understand what's going on now? Between you and the Joker?' Joan said, sitting down next to her.

'I…can't believe it.' Harley said again. 'She stole my costume!'

Leland exhaled, heavily. 'Yes, yes she did. And you know why, Harleen? It's because she knows that you're too weak to say anything about it to her. She can take advantage of you knowing nothing will ever happen to her. She doesn't care how you feel. She just likes your image and when she finds another image to copy, she'll ditch yours like it never existed.' Leland said angrily, getting up. Harley looked up at Joan with sad eyes.

'How do you know that?'

'I paid attention to the role-play today'

Harley brought her knees up to her chest and let herself fall onto her side.

'Good night, Harley.' Joan said and turned to leave. She tried to ignore the small sobs as she closed the door and locked it for the night.

Days went by and not a peep was heard from the Joker. He accepted his medicine every time it was given. He gave no cheek to any of the doctors doing their morning and evening rounds. He just lay on his bed and watched the doctors carry away his food trays, and bring fresh sheets. There came a time that some mornings, only one doctor came instead of two or three. The Joker still said and did nothing. Batman wasn't fooled.

'What's he up to?' Batman asked Commissioner Gordon. Before Gordon could answer, the nurse who was looking after the Joker at the time wheeled out her trolley and heard the question.

'Batman, it's amazing,' she butted in. 'He's become one of the easiest people to care for. He doesn't struggle or argue when he receives medicine, he makes his own bed, keeps the cell clean and doesn't try to attack any of the doctors.'

'He's up to something, nurse. I don't want to see this new 'one doctor' routine that's going on when it comes to doing the rounds in this man's cell. Three, two at the minimum.' The nurse inserted the key card into the slot next to the door and the door mechanically started to close itself. The Joker waved at Batman politely.

'No matter how secure these cells are now, we can't afford to have The Joker escape again.'

Batman and the Commissioner turned to leave before Leland caught up to them.

'Batman, we're having a general staff meeting 10:15 tonight. That's when the last rounds should have concluded. Mr. Arkham insists you be there considering Harley.'

'That shouldn't be a problem, doctor.'

Harley had been given a few days off from sessions. Ivy was captured once more and Harley was delighted when Ivy was allowed to make a quick visit but even Ivy's words about how disgraceful the Joker is didn't sink in. Session after session, therapeutic workshops, television, freedom from Asylum routines; Dr Leland was getting extremely impatient. Her doubt for Harley's insanity recovery was increasing with each session. She stood leaning against Harley's doorframe watching Harley chew gum upside down on her bed. No one had said anything for a while, which was common these days because Leland bored Harley now. She knew that the doctor was too strong to give into her manipulation and trickery. Leland had stopped treating Harley like a victim and was now very blunt, strict and bossy. Harley's wish to go back to her usual cell was denied due to the risk of word reaching Harley that the Joker had been rehabilitated.

'We're having a general staff meeting tonight, Harley. Mr Arkham and Batman are both extremely interested in your progress. Is there anything you'd like to be brought to attention at the meeting?'

Harley's bubble gum bubble exploded in response.

'Harley?' she said smoothly. 'I want to ask you a very serious question. Have you ever thought about death?' Harley's face twisted into a look of confusion. She looked at Joan as if she hadn't heard her correctly.

'Wha'?'

'Do you want to die, Harley?' Leland questioned again.

Harley, still confused, rolled onto her tummy. 'Sweetie, even if I died, I wouldn't really be dead. It goes with Mistah J as well. Get me?

'That's not what I asked, Harleen.'

'What kind of question is that anyway? Does it matter?' Harley said frowning at Joan.

'So long as you stay with The Joker, your life span shortens every time a plan fails. Haven't you figured that out yet?'

'Sure.' Harley said, kicking her legs

'Do you remember what we talked about back in our first session?'

Harley's face fell into a look of discomfort.

'That was ages ago. Old news. He was just frustrated. Love hurts' Harley defended.

Leland shook her head. 'When was the last time you felt truly loved by someone? Love is supposed to be the strongest of all emotions. Stronger than hate. It's what makes us feel good about others and ourselves.'

Harley rolled her eyes

'I'll give you an example,' Leland continued 'I know this woman; she has just got engaged to her boyfriend of six years. He tells her he loves her every day and has never raised his voice at this lady, let alone his fist. Do you get that sort of treatment Harley?'

Harley's felt a pang of envy and her bottom lip quivered. Leland's angry face softened. She walked over to the bed, sat down and placed a hand on Harley's shoulder.

'It's not easy and I know you're not overly thrilled but I'm still confident that we can still do this. You're a good person underneath all that white makeup and beneath that mask and jester outfit.' Harley sniffed and looked up at Joan. She noticed something sparkle out of the corner of her eye and looked down at Joan's hand on her shoulder. She frowned at the glistening new engagement ring.

'Get out.' Harley said softly, looking back up at Joan.

'Harley, we need to talk.'

'GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT!' Harley screamed. Leland jumped up and ran to the door, followed by a few flying cushions and screams.

Harley sobbed, grabbing her clown dolly and curled up onto the bed.

Leland sat down onto her office chair and looked down at her notes and short talk she had prepared for the meeting that night. She picked up her pen and scribbled down a few more notes, wiping away the small tear droplets from her page every now and then. She put her pen down again and gave her notes a quick read through before gathering them together, patting them lightly so they'd fall straight into place and placing them into her folder. She sniffed as she got up and walked over to her small mirror. She straightened her collar and fixed up her headband. She dampened the corner of her hanky and used it to wipe the black mascara lines out from under her eyes.

'Get it together, Joan.' She blew her nose and folded the hanky back into her pocket. She walked over to her desk, grabbed the folder and started to make her way down to the staff room.

Harley waited patiently for the doctors to come do their usual check-up rounds. Like the same time every other night, there was a knock on her door, a small pause and when the door opened, the usual white coat doctor stepped through pushing a metal tea trolley. Harley noticed that this particular doctor was wearing a surgical mask and cap.

'What's with the Halloween costume, doc?'

'Good Evening, Harleen.' The male doctor said in a smooth, calm voice. 'I trust all is well tonight?'

'As good as it's gonna get, doc.'

'You look depressed. Is it the lack of communication between anyone, apart from that pesky psychiatrist Leland and Battyman?'

'Hey, pretty much. Wowie doc, good call on Leland.' Harley giggled

'Don't worry doll face, won't be long until we're on the road again together.' The doctor let out a small chuckle. Harley's eyes widened. Her heart skipped a beat. The doctor ripped of his mask and cap and an insane smile spread across his face.

'PUDDIN'!' Harley ran at The Joker and jumped into his arms. He quickly pushed her away. 'Shush!' he gestured. Harley was too excited to see her lover and gave a small squeal. 'How did you find me? How did you get here? I thought we were over, I lov…'

'Shut up idiot, do you want to be caught?' He threw spare clothes and surgical mask at her. 'Get into these and be quick. Oh and change your hair. Don't just stand there, go change!'

Harley quickly changed while the Joker guarded the door. Harley made her hair into a tight bun and giggled. 'I'm ready!' She bounced.

'Wait…' The Joker grinned evilly. 'Not just yet.'

xxx

'Jones and Gates are late.' Leland said, looking impatiently at her watch. Jeremiah Arkham scowled and drummed his fingers on the table.

'Gates usually turns up for staff meetings 15 minutes early.' Leland protested.

'Who was last on their rounds?' Batman said, curiously.

'Jones had Harley Quinn, and Gates had…' She put a shaking hand over her mouth. 'Oh god…the last person on Gates' round was The Joker.'

Batman rushed out of the room, followed closely by Leland, three security guards and seven other doctors. They rushed up the stairs to the maximum-security cells. Batman sprinted down the corridor of cells and skidded to a halt at the Joker's door. Leland's hands were shaking as she fumbled around trying to insert the key card into the lock slot. Batman stood at the ready, expecting a struggle from whoever was in the room. The door slid open to reveal complete darkness. The sensor lights flashed on and Gates lay sprawled on the floor, stripped down to his underclothes, his face twisted into a distorted Joker smile. Batman glared. Leland's eyes widened when she saw the body.

'Harley!' She said and spun around to go back. The security guards were already half way down the stairs. Down the corridors of the old guest rooms, Batman sprinted around the corner nearly tripping over the body of Donald Jones. He had been a part of Arkham's top nursing staff for 13 years and now lay face down on the cold stone floor. Batman pushed Jones' shoulder with his foot to roll him onto his back. Donald Jones' face was twisted in the same distorted way as Gates'.

Batman growled and kept running the others at his heels.

Harley's door was wide open. Batman stood in the door way and Leland gasped again. Harley was gone and 'HA HA HA HA HA' was scribbled all over the walls and floor in red marker.

Who's going to clean off all that red marker? Not me!