CHAPTER 4.
"In your own words, please tell me what happened the night of the breakout." Joan asked, perching on the edge of her seat.
"My knight in shining amour rescued me." Harley sighed. "Mmmm... I'll never forget how he looked that night."
"What did he do?" Joan tensed her fingers around the pen she was holding, leaving little black dots on the paper in anticipation.
"... He tried to kill me, but that was only cos' he was scared." Harley replied.
"Scared?" Joan scoffed in disbelief.
"Yeah, I didn't know it at the time but I was making him feel things, things he hadn't felt since forever... He hated it, still does. But he doesn't fight it as much now." She shrugged.
Doctor Leland looked at her as though she was speaking another language. Being a Doctor, Joan had heard stories that she would never dare repeat, but hearing that the Joker was scared was one of the most ridiculous things that she had ever been told. "How did he try and kill you?" She asked.
Harley grinned and bit her bottom lip. "He's kinda into asphyxiation."
"The Joker tried to strangle you?" Joan furrowed her brows in confusion. "What stopped him?"
"I embraced him." Harley whispered. "All of him, his beautiful madness. He knew I wasn't afraid of him the first moment we met and that made his game of seduction all that easier."
"He used you, the Joker used you to escape Harleen. He lured you, and then snatched your freedom away."
Harley rolled her eyes and ruffled her arms in her straight jacket gently, easing an itch on her skin. "I know that, you think I'm stupid of somethin'? Huh? I know he used me, but that doesn't mean the feelings weren't there... If he didn't love me, he would of killed me that night."
Leland pinched the bridge of her nose. "Did you fall in love with him before or after your abduction?"
"After." Harley spat, knowing which direction this conversation was headed.
"So you were reluctant to go with him in the first place?" Leland asked, casually scribbling down notes.
Harley shifted in her seat. "I don't remember."
"Yes you do Harleen. Please, I need to know what happened, I need to understand what drove you to-"
"Madness? I'm not mad Joan, I'm free." Harley explained. "I was stuck in a rut of 9 till 5 work, repeating the same boring routine everyday. No social life, no friends and no excitement, he helped me see that. He gave me wings Joan."
"I was your friend." Leland said gently.
Harley rolled her head back and laughed. "You were my colleague, not my friend."
Joan scooted forward in her chair, teasing a ball point pen between her fingers. "I want you to be able to talk to me Harleen, tell me things. Tell me something I don't know, something the tabloids and reports don't bother to care about." She asked.
Harley grinned deviously. "I like ginger biscuits... They don't get enough appreciation."
"I'm serious Harleen. What's the appeal? Why throw your life away for a man who doesn't even respect you, who doesn't love you?" Leland retorted.
"Oh, If I had a dollar for every time someone said that." She giggled. "I don't expect you to understand our relationship, so I'll put it in baby terms for you. Yes he kidnapped me, yes I didn't want to go, I even tried to stop him but he wanted me Joan. He wanted me, the Joker of all people!" Harley exclaimed. "I tried to leave, I really did but love creeps up on you. It was the little things at first, the way his eyes would light up when he saw me, the way he could make me feel confident and scared all rolled into one." Harley bit her lip in remembrance. "He makes me feel special, like I'm the only woman in the world, his world."
"That's all very well Harleen, but you haven't answered my question..."
Harley's eyes suddenly went dark ."All you see is the green haired clown running around ripping off mob bosses and battling the Bat. I get that and more... Shall I tell you about the nights when he held me in his arms whilst I rode out another nightmare? The countless of times were I've been in trouble and he's put his own life on the line to rescue me? Or the time when my body was littered in bruises and he kissed each one?" Harley told her firmly. "Don't get me wrong Joan, he annoys the hell outta me most days... Leaving the toilet seat up, squeezing the toothpaste from the middle of the tube and leaving his clothes scattered around the place; when he does that I really want to throttle him, but what we have is love and hate in equal measure... And I wouldn't change it for the world."
Doctor Leland sat or a moment, trying to process her patients words. She knew that the Joker could be in his own way, affectionate, but she thought it was just bait for Harley, a reason for her to stay with him, a reason to keep her and control her.
"Harleen, What your saying is evidence to the fact... What we believe," She gestured towards the door. "What we all believe you have is a strong case of Stockholm syndrome."
Harley squinted her eyes in annoyance. "Been reading out of your college textbook Joan? What I have isn't Stockholm. If it was, I would know."
"You wouldn't Harley, that's that point." She explained carefully. " The way I see it and the way the physiological department sees it, is that you have developed sympathetic feelings towards the Joker, You make the effort to share his opinions and therefore produce romantic feelings for him as a survival strategy during captivity. What you're feeling isn't love, not true, deep love... It's your brains defense in hope that if you latch on emotionally and physically to him, he'll let you go."
"No." Harley snapped. "Don't throw the book at me Joan, don't you even dare. I've read it cover to cover, I know the definition. The difference is, I don't want to leave. I know me better than anyone, better than you and better than that fucking text book you keep quoting!" She shouted, squirming in her straight jacket. "Get this fucking thing off me! It's too tight and I can't feel my arms!"
"Harleen, please." Joan said trying to calm her.
"My name is Harley! Harley fucking Quinn!" She shouted at the top of her lungs trying to break free from her restraints.
Doctor Leland scrambled to her feet and opened the therapy room door, she poked her head round the corner and called over the nearby guards. "Take Miss Quinzel back to her cell." She said trying to disguise her panic.
The guards bundled in immediately, grabbing her by the jacket and hauling Harley to her feet as she kicked out, trying to defend herself. Despite her arms being strapped down, she managed to land a couple of blows with her feet and she even used her shoulders to strike.
Harley grunted as one of the men flashed a Taser, in a silent warning for her to behave.
"Careful, please be careful." Joan winced, seeing the three guards begin to man handle her a bit roughly.
One of the men short her disgusted look, almost shocked that a highly respected Doctor like her would have pity on one of Gotham's most dangerous criminals.
"Get her outta here before Bolton comes back." One of the men said, grabbing the edge of her jacket and pulling her out of the chair. The other guards complied, dragging her out of the therapy room without giving Leland a second glace.
"I want to see him! Let me see him!" Harley yelled down the corridor, allowing the echoes of her desperate voice to hit Joan's ears.
"I can't do that Harley." She muttered to herself, feeling a stray tear slip down her cheek.
The Joker was laying on his cot, his back flat against the scratchy mattress while his feet rested on the neighbouring wall. He whistles and unfamiliar tune to himself while trying to casually wiggle out of his straight jacket.
"Ah, the place hasn't changed one bit." J sighed to himself, trying to find imperfections along the pure white ceiling.
Suddenly Joker heard determined footsteps making their way down the hallway, he rolled his body off the bed and stood abruptly, wearing his Arkham issued grin, awaiting the visitor. He hoped it was Bolton, oh how he wanted to kick that man's head in.
"Boss?" A strangely familiar voice spoke, one Joker clocked it, his eyes widened like saucers.
"Jerry!" He beamed, racing towards the glass. " I almost forgot I hadn't killed you yet."
Jerry stuttered on strangled words as he made his way towards the Joker's glass cage. "How you doin' Boss?" He finally asked.
"Good, good." Joker nodded, "But I fear my little Pumpkin isn't faring too well... You got some dirt for me Jerry? Where is the little minx held up?"
"Oh." Jerry chocked, "I, I dunno Boss, I only overheard you were back from the other guys, they're keeping you residence on the down low Boss. I assumed Miss Quinn was at home playing house?"
"Jerry, Jerry, Jerry, you and thinking don't mix do they?" Joker tutted, cocking his head to one side. "I want you to do what I pay you for dumb-dumb. Find out where she is, who her Doctor is and her treatment regime."
Jerry scratched the back of his neck. "Err.. Easier said than done Boss, since Mr Bolton was recruited, things have been a little bit tight around here, I can't even go for a shit without someone knowing about it Boss. We're all under evaluation and I-"
"Sorry Jerry," Joker sneered. "Have you mistaken me for someone who cares? Do what you're paid to do. No excuses, no questions just do it! Or I'll have to sack you Jezzer and you know what happens to people I sack..."
Jeer smiled uneasily. "Sure Boss, sorry Boss. I'll get right on it."
"Good, now since you're so willing and helpful, you can do a few other things while you're at it." Joker suggested, giving him a big grin.
"Of course Boss." He hesitated.
"Bolton, I want to know everything about him. Absolutely everything." J said firmly. "I want you to contact Frost to make arrangements in by absence."
Jerry nodded, mouthing out the Joker's instructions, desperately trying to make a mental note of his commands.
"Got everything dumb-dumb?" Joker laughed, remembering when Harley had started calling Jerry that nickname, she really did enjoy tormenting the witless wonder.
"Yes Boss." Jerry gritted. After being dismissed form a nod of the Joker's head, Jerry turned on his heal and begrudgingly made his way down the corridor, that was until he heard the Joker whistle sharply.
"Jerry boy come back! I need another little, itsy-bitsy favour." He purred.
Jerry rolled his eyes and turned back, dragging his own body towards the cage once again.
"Have you got a pen and piece of paper handy?" J asked, eyes scanning his uniform for the said items.
Jerry sighed and tripped open a Velcro pocket, producing an A5 notepad and pocket pen.
"Now," Joker said, sitting back on his cot. "Write this word for word."
Cliffhanger? Or just a tease?
I am now on A03! I have crossed over to the dark side! Fanfiction will still be my main site. But for those who prefer AO3, I'm now publishing on there! I've rolled out the first 2 Chapters of Impulse, editing them on the way! My username is MabelMadness and while you're on there please go and check out EndoratheWitch, her Joker and Harley fics give me chills!
Please be patient with my updates, life is hectic as I'm sure most of you know! I will never abandon a story, I will update ASAP!
-Mabel x