Yet another chapter for you guys and gals! I'm about halfway through the chapters that I've written so far in this story, but not to worry for I am already writing more! I enjoy this story as much as you guys do, especially the characters within it. I hope you all are anxious for my interpretation of the Joker, because I'm anxious to see whether not you guys enjoy him. He's certainly a complex character and I hope that I do him justice in all of your eyes.
I'd also like to thank the numerous people that have started to follow and favourite this story, as well as MermaidBodz for their review. It's all greatly appreciated.
Now, on with the show!
It wasn't until a day later that Harleen would finally know whether or not The Joker was interested in her or not. She had let it gnaw away at her like she did most things that frightened her. She had tossed and turned about it, dreamt about it and woke up in a cold sweat about it. The entire situation reminded her of bad memories that she wanted to keep a closed door on, the days when she was a ditzy blonde with an incredibly thick Brooklyn accent that wanted all of the boys to notice her for her antics. Those were the days when she didn't care, the days when she was happy-go-lucky and didn't understand that the world wasn't hers to own.
Harleen had closed the door on that life and she was determined to make sure it stayed under a tight lock and key for the rest of her days.
When she arrived at the Asylum she was in for what would be yet another frustrating day with the Mad Hatter, with barely any progress made and many notes made upon the psyche of the man that sat before both her and Leland. They spent a good few hours dissecting the case before they went for their lunch. Rumours were quickly spreading among the inmates about The Joker's arrival in the Asylum, but there were also more among the inmates and staff alike that he had chosen Harleen to be his new plaything for the forseeable future.
"It's just chatter." Leland had told her. "Ignore it."
But Harleen couldn't just do that. The way that people had started to look at her inside the staff room, as inmates turned their heads as she walked past their containment cells. It had started to send a shiver up her spine.
However, Harleen was surprised when she was brought to Dr. Arkham's office as soon as she got changed out of her work gear and into her civilian clothes. One of the security guards had come to look for her, asking for her to leave her bags in the staff room for the time being. Doing as she was asked, Harleen followed the security guard for what seemed like an age, before they stopped at their destination.
Heading into Arkham Mansion and going up one of the large staircases that led to the same room where she had been brought for Jeremiah to conduct her interview, Harleen was nervous. Her hand had started to shake with anxiety, but she was determined to make sure the guard or Dr. Arkham would not see it. Walking down the corridor at the top of the staircase, Harleen was surprised to find Dr. Leland standing outside the office of their boss with the same confused look on her face that Harleen had on her face a few minutes prior.
Seeing her, Leland smiled before knocking gently on Jeremiah's office door. They had both been asked to visit for some specific reason, yet neither could figure out exactly what was going on and why they were there. They did not have to wait too long to find out, however, as the door swiftly opened and revealed the lean figure of Jeremiah. He smiled and moved out of the way of the doorframe, before moving to his desk and taking a seat as they both did the same.
"Thank you both for coming, I appreciate it." Jeremiah smiled. "I'm sure you both have urgent matters to attend to and are eager to go home, but I believe that this important not only for this institute's future but also your future, Harleen."
Taken aback, Harleen's eyes widened as she tried to figure out what exactly was going on. Had she done something wrong? Was this the moment she would be let go and be forced to find another job? Her nerves had started to get the better of her.
"As both of you are probably now aware, as are most of the staff here, the Joker was recently arrested and placed in Blackgate. As is the usual procedure, he has now been transferred over here due to his insane state of mind." Jeremiah spoke with a low tone and heavy, breath-filled words. "This was an...unforseen turn of events."
"What do you mean by 'unforseen'?" Leland spoke up, a tone of concern fiercely evident in her voice.
"You of all people should know, Joan. The Joker has a certain taste in psychiatrists." Jeremiah replied. "And the last time we placed a doctor that he didn't like on his case, the press were given more than enough information to talk about."
"What are you suggesting, Jeremiah?" Leland's tone was turning more and more dark as she searched for the answer to his questions.
"It's not a suggestion, Joan. It's more of a fact." Jeremiah sighed. "The Joker has asked for Harleen to be his new psychiatrist."
Harleen nearly choked on her own saliva when she heard it. There was no way that a high-profile criminal like The Joker had decided to name a no-name as his new psychiatrist. She was sure that she had obviously misheard Jeremiah.
"Are you sure?" Harleen spluttered. "You're certain he was taking about me?"
"Harleen, I wouldn't have said anything if I was not one-hundred percent certain." Jeremiah clasped his hands together. "Even though he does not know who you are, The Joker has certainly found out about you, the newest member of staff."
"Jeremiah, you cannot be seriously thinking about agreeing to this." Leland growled. "Harleen is young and inexperienced. With no disrespect at all to her, I am seriously concerned that The Joker will chew her up and spit her out like nothing."
"I have been left with no other choice, Joan." Jeremiah sighed. "The Joker has asked for Harleen to be his therapist and I have to agree to what the patient desires. If I potentially change his psychiatrist to someone else then they could possibly end up in a body bag like the last one."
"Bodybag?" Harleen's eyes widened.
"The Joker is a dangerous criminal." Jeremiah held his head in his hands. "Sometimes not even the security staff at the Asylum can stop him when he flies into a rage. I hope you now realize why exactly we keep a lot of things out of the published reports."
"I don't think this is a good idea." Dr. Leland groaned. "This should be handled by a more trained and, quite frankly, more expendable member of staff."
Harleen was struggling to take this all in. Here she was, presented with what could be the defining case in her career. This was The Joker, known serial killer and vicious gang leader with an extreme case of insanity. No psychiatrist was ever able to successfully diagnose or get him to open up. Those that got too close to him were known to end up dead or missing, especially the doctors who tried to get in his way. There was tremendous pride and fame awaiting her, but there would be danger and extreme peril to plague her on the way.
"I want to do it." Harleen sighed, sitting up straight. "If he wants me, then I'll make sure to do my best to help him."
A smile crept onto the face of Jeremiah Arkham. It was the kind of smile that a small child would make when he got exactly what he wanted for his birthday, and this was no doubt what Jeremiah wanted. Looking at Harleen, his eyes widened and he grinned, before turning to Dr. Leland.
"Thank you, Joan." He smiled. "You may leave."
"But Jeremiah..." Leland sighed.
With a stern look as a reply, Dr. Leland nodded and rose from her chair. Within moments of ending his conversation, Jeremiah turned to Harleen and waited patiently for Dr. Leland to get up and leave the office. Once she had done so, Jeremiah clasped his hands together.
"You're taking a huge risk with this." Jeremiah's head sunk. "The Joker will be unlike anyone you have ever met in your entire life. He is sporadic and the downright representation of insanity. Compared to The Joker, the Mad Hatter will seem like child's play to you."
"But why did you agree to this, if I may ask?" Harleen folded her arms. "I've worked here for around a month, I have had a single patient and you have said yourself that I have no practical experience. I appreciate this opportunity, of course, but forgive me but I don't understand it."
"It's perfectly fine to be confused, Harleen." Jeremiah sat back in his chair. "But I have said to you before that I believe that you could be one of the very best of us here. Jervis Tetch was not a true test of your abilities, you and I both know that. But I feel that the notes you made on the subject will be extremely helpful to the next doctor to take on his case. You deserve a challenge that you can sink your teeth into and I fully believe that The Joker will be just that, however dangerous the situation will be."
Before Harleen was given a chance to reply, Jeremiah continued abruptly.
"I also want to make sure that you know that you will be perfectly safe while conducting your sessions with him." He clasped his hands together once more. "I will have multiple guards set outside the door and a panic button installed inside your office. In addition to that, the Joker will be restricted into a straightjacket at all times in order to maintain a safe level of physical interaction."
Harleen nodded. This was what she would have expected from a dangerous criminal such as The Joker. The level of security and safety prep that would need to go into a regular hour session with the patient would be higher than the roof, but it would need to be done so that The Joker would not be able to harm the doctor or be able to successfully escape the room, allowing him to freely participate in a rampage or start an institute-wide riot.
"He is that dangerous?" Harleen asked.
"I'm sure you're read the reports." Jeremiah nodded. "I don't need to go into detail, but he is truly a vicious specimen."
Harleen sat back in her chair and took a deep breath. Noticing this, Jeremiah leaned forwards and placed both his elbows on the desk, folding his arms to be able to do so in a comfortable fashion.
"The Joker is a special case, Harleen, I don't need to tell you that." Jeremiah smiled. "If you find a way to get inside his head, to get him talking, maybe even start to break his psyche apart, it could be the start of a major breakthrough with him. Many different institutes have tried to create their own theories on The Joker but none have succeeded. He is an enigma, shrouded in a web of mystery that only he can walk through unscathed. It's all very mysterious and quite exciting, if you ask me."
"I will do my best, Dr. Arkham." Harleen smiled.
"I'm sure you will, don't worry about that." Jeremiah stood up from his chair and began to walk towards one of the exhibits of equipment he had. "But you must remember that you are the newest fish in the pond. The Joker will want to break you as he has tried to do with all of us. The psychiatrist profession is a game to him. Be very careful."
With a sigh, Harleen stood up and walked towards the door. "Goodnight, Jeremiah."
"Goodnight, Harleen." Jeremiah spoke, his back turned to her. "Get some rest. I'll email some files on The Joker later tonight."
"Thank you, sir." Harleen opened the office door and took a step out.
"Harleen?" Jeremiah called from the office. Sticking her head back in with a raised eyebrow, Harleen waited for his response.
Turning around slowly, Jeremiah folded his arms. "Don't fret on this whole Joker situation. If you ever feel that you cannot continue as his therapist, I will have you removed from the case and place another doctor onto it."
With a nod, Harleen left the office and closed the door behind her. She immediately leant on the wall beside her and took multiple deep breaths, trying to process exactly what was going on.
The Joker had asked for her.
He wanted her to be his psychiatrist.
He wanted Harleen Quinzel.