"Are you happy with yourself Patient four, four, seven, nine?" Dr. Strange asked, "Killing a guard and seriously injuring a nurse. Do you understand that she could sue this asylum for what you did yesterday?"

Joker didn't respond in a sedated haze and leaning against the soft, solitary confinement room wall.. Hugo Strange rubbed his temples with a sigh.

"I've been patient with you thus far. Very, very patient, for several long months. I've even allowed you privileges. Privileges that no other inmates of this asylum have... and this is what you do,"

Joker stared at his therapist thoughtful, "You sssaid she could sssue," he slurred.

"Yes,"

"Thassss all you care 'bout, huh?"

"No, that is untrue. I lost two valuable employees yesterday," explained the doctor.

Joker nodded slightly, "That anssswerss my question,"

"Well Patient four, four, seven, nine, fortunently this is not about me. It's about you. I know you don't know that murder is wrong but-"

"I know it doc," Joker interrupted, "I just don' think isss correct,"

"And I do not have the patience to argue your... your theories any longer," Dr. Strange began to make his way toward the door.

"Givin' up eh?"

Dr. Strange turned, "No, I have other methods to discovering your past Patient four, four, seven, nine,"

Joker chucked slightly, "But... what good will that do? What if I told you my birth name ssstartss with the letter jaaaay?" he sucked his bottom lip momentarily before speaking again, "What good will that do? Theresss liiiike a jillion J namesss in the world,"

"I fail to see your point,"

Joker sighed heavily, "The point iiisss; anything thing I tell yooou will beee one tiiiiny puzzle piece. And you'll never uh, complete the whoole thing cos face it... some of the piecesss are juuuust lost,"he looked up at Dr. Strange through heavily lidded eyes, "Predic-ssshhin," he slurred, "You'll lossse your mind tryin' to figure me out," Joker licked his right scar, "You're not givin' up...neither am IIII,"

The doctor seemed to consider the words. Though Joker believed the man was far to arrogant to take them to heart and he didn't want him to. Joker never gave warnings so that people could heed them. He gave them to plant that little seed of fear in the back of a person's mind. That little 'what if' that would constantly nag and eat away at its host psyche before it eventually destroyed it.


Harley had been excused from therapy since the sedatives she was given the previous day knocked her completely out. It wasn't until about lunchtime the next day that she was feeling better.

Karen came in about twelve. She had been in earlier as well, but Harley was barely conscious and could not remember the nurse or medication she took.

"How are you feeling," Karen asked.

Harley rolled over in bed, rubbing one eye, "Tired,"

"Sorry to hear that," the nurse apologized, "Maybe some food would boost your energy, it is lunch time,"

Harley rolled her eyes.

"C'mon," she gave her a hand, "Dr. Strange's given you cafeteria privileges, you should be excited,"

She groaned, Harley was not excited by the prospect of the cafeteria. She would prefer to stay in her cell, not matter how damp and cold it was. But the doctor ordered some social interaction and she obviously was on medication to help with that. Harley, much to her surprise, did not feel as anxious as she would have expected with her situation. However none of her pills helped with her lack of enthusiasm.

Karen assisted Harley in walking to the cafeteria, a guard following close behind. As if she could run if she wanted to, not with her leg still in a cast.

"Here we are," Karen gently opened the heavy cafeteria door.

Inside it was set up much like a school. The tables were set up much like picnic tables so that patients could not harm each other with chairs and of course everything was bolted to the floor.

Harley stood awkwardly at the front of the room with Karen, "Let's find a place for you to sit, this probably isn't good for your leg," said Karen, searching the room for a spot, "Ah over there," she began leading Harley to the far left end of the room.

Sitting by the wall was a woman with long, red hair pulled back in a pony tail. She stared down at her tray pushing a few green beans around with her fork in a bored manner.

"Pamela," Karen greeted as she approached the woman.

Pamela looked up with the brightest green eyes Harley had ever seen, "Hello Karen," she smiled slightly then glanced at Harley, eyeing her up and down sternly.

"Pamela this is Harley. Harley this is Pamela Isley," she introduced the two.

"Hi," Pamela held out her hand in a professional manner, Harley accepted the handshake, a gesture she had not expected from a fellow inmate.

"Pamela, Harley is new and I thought it would be best if she sat with you today," the nurse said, knowing that she was one of the few patients that could really control herself.

"That's fine Karen,"

"Thanks. I'll just take Harley here through the lunch line and be right back,"

Harley went to the line with Karen feeling like a child. She glanced back at her new acquaintance, Pamela. Those intense green eyes watched her briefly before looking back at her lunch. Harley wondered what she was here for.

In a few moments she returned to the table with a bowl of green beans and ham, mashed potatoes, a bruised apple and a miniature carton of milk.

"I'll see you girls later," Karen waved and exited the lunchroom to return to her job.

After a pause Pamela spoke, "She's a nice lady,"

Harley nodded.

"One of the few orderlies here that treats patients like people," she continued.

Harley simple nodded again, trying the mashed potatoes. They seemed to be strangely gritty in her mouth.

"They aren't very good are they?"

Harley shook her head no.

"Are you mute Harley?" asked Pamela smartly.

"No," she spoke this time.

"I didn't think so," Pamela sat her fork down and pushed her tray aside, "I've heard about you," she began, "I was still a free woman when you broke the Joker out of here. But once I was... well, placed in Arkham I lost track of your story," she leaned forward, "Is he responsible for this?" Pamela traced lines on her own face, mimicking Harley's stitches.

"If you must know, yes," Harley said quietly, not looking up towards the other woman.

"I apologize... that was rude and somewhat obvious,"

"It's okay," mumbled Harley.

"I suppose I'm opinionated and I don't think much of you," Pamela spoke, eyes fixed on the former doctor across form her.

Harley was taken back somewhat by the statement. She finally made eye contact with Pamela.

"There I go again," she laughed, "Far to opinionated. It doesn't help being in a mental institution and simply being allowed to speak my mind without social consequences. But I'm sure you know all about that, being a former therapist here," Pamela paused and after no response from Harley continued, "That's my problem with you. You gave up a PhD for a man,"

Once again, Pamela got no response from the woman across the table. Harley only stared at her in anger and shock at what she was so openly saying to her, this person she just met.

"Well, its time for me to go, I have therapy soon," Pamela stood up, taking her tray as she did, "See you tomorrow Quinzel,"

"Its Harley," she spoke up, "Just Harley,"

Pamela nodded, "Still going by an alias, Harley Quinn. Is there a technical term for that? When a patient just won't let go?" she asked continuing to walk on.


And so Poison Ivy (Poison Ivy is Pamela Isley, but I'm sure everyone knew that) enters the story. The versions of the character that I have seen are kinda bitchy so I went with that. But I think that's a bit of an exterior for the Ivy character, maybe her toughness is misunderstood and she'll really be good for Harley...