Now I'm BACK, and giving it my full attention after completing my Vorta Brides Trilogy with "Yelgrun and Lynet: Chosen for the Marriage Bed". :D I pray this next chapter was worth the wait.

Chapter Seven

"Harley is nothing but a little traitor! Leaving me like that and going for the scrawny scientist who's never given his manhood to anyone in his life! He's nowhere near half the man that I am!" Joker never joked around when it came to someone's life, so when Pamela Isley listened to what Nygma bugged on the clown for the sake of the two people whose best interests they looked out for, this was deadly serious that it made her dig her nails into her own palms.

There had been the sound of glass breaking; it could be anything the Joker broke for the sake of it. Good thing Harley was not there to face it - but soon she and Crane together were going to face an even bigger wrath now that he was catching up to them. "No one leaves the Clown Prince of Crime unless I say they can! She's going to pay for this - her and the scarecrow together! Rock, any leads on where they have gone for their little 'honeymoon'?" he spat the word indignantly, probably at his quivering henchman, too, who whimpered in fear.

"Y-y-yeah, boss. She and Jonathan Crane have gone to New York City, to the Plaza Hotel."

Ivy closed her eyes and inhaled through her nose. Joker, you son of a bitch...

"Oh, ha-zaah! The kid and the professor go on a lover's getaway to the big city of all places, and not even thinking about the consequences." He laughed cruelly. "Just thought she could get rid of me that easily, did she? Boys, we're going there, and I'm going to teach them both a lesson they'll never forget. No matter what it takes, Scarecrow will regret ever touching what belongs to ME..."

The recording stopped then and there, and then there was a cracking on the other end, telling her Edward had her back. "They're both doomed, Pam," he said, nearly moaning before she snapped at him to pull himself together. "I can think of so many things we can do now, and I say we pull my boys together, your plants, and then we go save Jon and Harley ourselves. And maybe I can leave you to kill the clown yourself." He snickered, making her smile. The idea wasn't so bad; she'd wanted to kill the clown for a long time, though she wasn't sure if Harley would forgive her even though she was over him. She just wanted it done and soon, for both their sakes.

"We'll go there now. Gather as many of your men as you can, and I'll meet you at this rendezvous point..."

~o~

They were hit unconscious, but when they both awoke sometime later, Harley found herself laying on the floor of what looked like a huge van - typical of Mistah J - and surrounded with a dozen, or less, of his men. Their faces were not seen clearly, and none of them spoke. She knew better than to utter a sound, but she had to make sure her husband was all right. Jonathan lay beside her, unmoving and on his stomach as she had been. Tentatively, she reached and turned him over on his back. In response, he groaned and stirred.

"Ssh, Jonny, don't move too much," she whispered to him, her bones chilling and her heart rapidly thumping against her sternum. "We're in the van."

His eyelids fluttered, and when his eyes opened, he looked straight up at her. "Harley," he muttered, without a beat. "He has us."

"We're doomed, baby. I'm so sorry." A part of her felt like it was her fault, that they should have been more careful. The back of her head throbbed with the regret, but if she told Jonathan this, he would only say it was not hers to blame, but she felt responsible. They should have gotten out of Gotham sooner, started their honeymoon and first weeks of marriage in England or somewhere like they talked about...but now they were gonna die. But if not today, who knew when.

Don't think like that. Eddie has been tagging, so he's gotta know Mistah J is here. All hope is not lost yet, Harley.

"I should assume the responsibility, Harley," Jonathan said softly. "I was supposed to protect you, but now look what happened." He reached up to caress her face, and she closed her eyes when she placed that hand on her cheek and held it there, suppressing the tears for as long as it needed to be until -

And then the truck stopped, and she held still onto him while one of the men stood up and opened the door upwards, letting in sunlight pour through and temporarily blind her and Jonathan, before they were both hoisted up and hauled out of here, shoved onto the ground. On gravel, and near a bay. The city of New York and its bridges were ahead. They had been traveling outside the city for their punishments. No one would hear whatever screaming either of them would unleash from their throats - and the others would never find them in time.

"And so the little wench and the 'good' professor find themselves at my feet," the Joker sneered as he stood in front of them, full regalia in purple and green as she remembered, but that beaming smile no longer made her fall head over heels - and the gleam in his eyes was far from happy to see her. Then the smile was gone, replaced with a hideous snarl. "Stupid little girl, I've been calling you that for years whenever you had the guts to cross me!"

Jonathan snarled back at him. "She's not stupid, you foul-mouthed -" He held in his painful sounds when he received a strike to the back of his head as a warning to keep quiet. He'd gotten worse blows in life, but Harley feared for him. "- piece of chemical filth," he finished, spitting at the Joker who only laughed in barks.

"Really, Scary? Is that the best you can do? Or is it because you are too prim and proper to unleash the most vulgar of obscenities at me just to show how weak you really are? And what a fool you are to take away Harley - MY Harley, by the way!" He leaned into Jonathan's face, taking a handful of red hair into his fist and making the other man wince but hold it tight, not giving any satisfaction or any sign he was intimidated. Jonathan was too strong for this. "And for all of this, you're both going to be punished."

"Killing us is too easy for you, puddin'," Harley snapped.

"Indeed it is, pumpkin pie," he answered sarcastically, standing in front of her with his hands behind his back. "To get right for the target spoils all the fun. I leave you in Arkham and promise to come back and get you only to learn you become a good girl back in society's graces, because you're a damned coward!" he shouted, bringing a hand out and slapping her harshly across the face. Harley fell forward, whimpering and crying now because it hurt so much. "You should have stayed there as I told you to, or did you forget that the Batman comes first and foremost?"

She felt her teeth rattle but none fell. Nevertheless, she parted her mouth to gasp for air. "You always choose to fight the Batman over me," she said angrily, looking up at him daringly. "I'm nothing to you but just a sidekick. Everything you told me in our sessions was a LIE. You have millions of lies to manipulate others and then toss them aside when you don't need them anymore...like me."

He huffed. "And this scrawny nerd is everything I am not," he stated, walking over and delivering a kick to Jonathan's abdomen, sending him doubling over and groaning in pain beside her. He gestured to two of the goons behind her husband to "play" with him while he continued his little chat with his former princess. Baring his teeth, he returned to kneel in front of Harley and take her long hair and force her to her knees. "What does that straw man give you that I don't?" he hissed, which she did back.

"Love, honesty - everything you pretended with me." Another slap, but she didn't cry. She was sure to be bruised if she ever survived today.

"What, you're saying I never LOVED you?" he almost roared, letting her go and dropping her to the gravel. When she didn't answer, he stood up and placed his foot on her back, applying so much pressure to her bared back that she almost sobbed in agony. "ANSWER ME!"

"No," she answered, clenching her fists. "It was all an unhealthy obsession. I was a foolish child, but that girl is no more. I was blind, but my eyes are opened now - puddin'. Or should I say piece of dump?" Perhaps she shouldn't have said that, for that foot let go only to come back and blow her to the side, almost cracking a rib and turning her over onto her back so she was looking up at his silhouette.

"Oh, Harley, I'm going to make you pay for this humiliation. But first, I ought to make you suffer by watching as my boys have fun with your precious Scarecrow." He turned his head in the direction of Jonathan's torture; his cheek was bearing an ugly bruise, his lower lip busted and bleeding, and his shirt was being ripped down the front. His tie was torn off so little shreds were remaining. The look in his eyes was sheer desperation and fear...

"STOP IT!" she screamed over at the goons. "STOP HURTING HIM!"

What good would that ever do? They would just keep beating him until he was unconscious, and Joker would force her to watch the so-called fun, and she had to close her eyes and turn away, before her hair was pulled again and snapping her head backwards. Cold steel was placed at her neck. "I would watch if I were you, you little slut," Joker growled, pointing his knife into her pale neck, "unless you want me to cut your throat here and now, so the Master of Fear can taste your blood spilled from your dead body..."

"Joker, enough!" Jonathan shouted hoarsely. "J-just - sp-spare her and take me instead of HER!"

Harley gasped and looked in his direction. Jonny, what are you doing?! she wanted to scream out, but thought better. He was...offering himself for her to be let go! Why would he do this? This shouldn't be...she shouldn't be free while he would suffer for her...! But Joker's gloved hand let her go, and he twirled the knife in his hands whilst snickering.

"Oooh, this just got interesting. What are you doing now, Crane, hmm? Being the hero now for your damsel in distress when you are both in my captivity? Oh, this is so funny." Joker threw his head back and cackled. "I don't believe it; I just don't believe this. I never thought it would get any better than this." He knelt down and blew his breath into Jonathan's face, making the other turn his face inward in disgust. "Now, why would I let the bitch go and keep you, Spooky?"

He wheezed a few times before answering. "Because I'm the one who took her from you. She needed my protection, from you and your knives and hands, and your constant degradation of her pride and confidence!" he spat, looking up with a curling, bleeding lip. "She deserves better than you ever would have given her!" More blood gushed from his poor face as he was kicked. Did he lose a tooth? Harley's heart would break if he did; Jonathan might not be perfect, but he was very proud of himself.

"That ought to be good enough for me," Joker said casually, humming in deep thought for what felt like an eternity before he whirled back around to Harley who was picking herself up. He sighed in faux resignation, slumping his shoulders empathetically. "Oh, well, alright, the deal is done. But not just yet; I think the intended punishment for the betrayal is in order..."

Her punishment was more bruises, a broken bone, and then a brutal cut on her bare leg - her right calf, to be precise, which was bleeding a little if nonstop. By the time it was done, the sun was just going down and she was thrown into the back of the van, not before she briefly shared one last look with her beloved husband before darkness closed in on her eyes.

The door was opened again, and she was taken out, numb to her senses, and tossed unscrupulously onto a public street. Right now it was a very lonely one. No one would bother seeing the battered, bruised and bleeding blonde woman picking herself up and grimacing. If anyone did notice her, then she would scream at them to mind their own business. Her pain was hers to worry about - but it was not the pain compared to the one in her heart. Jonathan...Jonny...my Scarecrow...

She wasn't even aware of time anymore as she roamed alone, barefoot and in her pale blue dress from the musical that she had gone to see with him before everything went downhill. Who knew if she would see him again, and if she did, he might be in a body bag or worse: Joker would forbid them from seeing each other again on pain of death.

There was the sound of a vehicle stopping now beside her, but she ignored it and kept on walking...until a familiar lush, feminine voice caused her to halt and whirl around, gasping at the sight of her best friend and the others with her. "Harl!" Red raged, jumping out of the car - Nygma was in the driver seat, along with Jervis in the back - and throwing her arms gently around the blonde. "Oh, my God, what has he DONE to you?! And Crane -!"

"Joker has him," Harley confessed, bursting into tears and leaning into her friend. "Jonathan...gave himself up just to save me. We have to go back and save him, Red. We just got to..."

~o~

Harley was safe, but she was limping through the city streets alone and in pain, that it made Crane angry in the bowels of his stomach and very being. But Joker gave his word and let her go - but he was still prisoner. Every bone in his body throbbed, no broken bones yet, but he was bleeding in his mouth and spitting it onto the ground, staining the rocks. The air was cold, telling him that a fate worse than death was coming. He supposed that this he would accept if he never got free, if none of the others came to his aid.

When he was a boy, he long ago gave up any idea of help coming for him. He always fended for himself, and survived. This time he might not be so lucky. Perhaps he could be tortured until he DID beg to be shot, stabbed - anything to take his life here and then for the woman he loved, wherever she was now.

But the orders Joker gave to his men were the complete opposite - and far worse than what the weapons present would do to him.

"Do what you want with him while I sit and watch, boys. I just want to give him his ultimate humiliation for tainting my Harley, for giving me the humiliation of taking my prize. Tear his clothes off and give him what you want, and don't bother getting sick if he doesn't please any of you. It's not just pleasure; it's revenge."

He held his breath as he was forced onto his back and closed his eyes, feeling his shirt torn all the way down, then onto his stomach when his bared skin was assaulted by the cold, harsh gravel; the garment was pulled off altogether, before the rest of his clothing was being taken care of for the perverse motivations in store for him...

~o~

Pamela clicked her tongue and finished the last of the bandaging of Harley's injuries, applying antiseptic to her bruises and tying her hair out of her face. Her dress had been torn in the abuse, and Ivy had brought spare clothing for her friend. Harley was now in a draping light pink top and jeans, and now she accepted a cup of her special herbal remedy that Jervis had to brew for her with one of Ivy's less deadly "babies" as an ingredient.

"If I see that clown again, I'll kill him for you," she promised Harley, who shook her head fearfully.

"No, Red, I'll do it. He has my Jonny, my baby, and he beat the living daylights out of me! I have to kill him myself for it. He's going to pay for this with my bare hands!" she shouted, gripping the cup so hard she wanted to tear it, wishing it was Joker's throat in her hands. "Who knows what he and the boys are doing to him at this very moment." She closed her eyes and bowed her head, bringing the still-hot cup to her forehead to give herself some short-lived warm comfort.

Jervis frightfully reached for the half-empty cup, crying out, "Oh, dear, don't strain yourself!"

"He's right, Harleen," Nygma said from looking over his computer he set up in the motel room checked in on the other side of the city - and by opposite side, it meant over the bridge, where her husband was being tortured at this very moment. They needed to do something fast, for Jonathan's sake.

"I wish I knew if they were still there, but the van Joker acquired was out of the radar so a tracker could not be placed on time," he said to the others. "I know for a fact they must be there for awhile now, or if not, they must already be on the move. It will be some...time before we catch up to Crane, wherever they took him now." He sighed sharply, not liking how this turned out in the slightest, but none were affected as much as Harley.

She leaned into Isley, holding onto her friend. "Red, the more time, the more Jonny suffers! Who knows if Joker kills him before we -!" She was interrupted by an irate Riddler.

"Harleen, I do not like this any more than you do, but it will have to do. We're going to save him either way. But right now we are going to keep you hidden from sight while our men prowl the city and keep us updated. Unlike the fools I have collaborated with, these ones I can certainly rely on. And I gave them the track to tag onto them so we can nail them all in a second."

"Oh, genius!" Tetch said excitedly, before reverting to nervous. "B-but, how are we going to do this? Are we going to go in and risk our lives, fire the guns and kill as many as possible? Even get ourselves killed in the process?" His teeth visibly chattered that he shrank backwards and barely into the women. He wanted to save his friend, but also scared for his own life.

Edward leaned back in his chair and stretched his bones, sighing. "Relax, Jervis, we're not going to die. Not when our men have it in them this time - and no matter the Clown Prince of Crime having the 'best' in his roll. He thinks he's going to beat us all - but he won't know what I've got to hit him," he said with a wink.

~o~

It had NOT been easy to track down Jon for the next month. Just when things could not get any worse...or perhaps he should have known better than to say those words to himself.

Joker and his gang vanished just like that, much better than Edward anticipated, and it enraged him. The clown thought he could outsmart the Prince of Puzzles, did he? He was besting Nygma's men after his tail, and it sickened him.

Harley went back to Gotham, back to work and her life, but not before she was questioned and then broken down to report her husband missing, but it was not like anyone would truly care because of his past. Edward cursed that damned man Joker sent in to spy on them and sell them out once their guards were lowered. They ruined a perfect start to the first day of the rest of the lives of two happy people - but the past had to come back and do more than haunt them. A month gone and went, and no sign of Dr. Jonathan Crane.

Edward had been tracking Joker and the gang down from New York City to Brooklyn - Harley's birthplace - and then Queens, till he was back to Gotham, which puzzled him even for his intellect. Why didn't Joker just come back to Gotham?

He would have figured all of this out by now. He had the television on which was still giving out clueless news reports as to the still-missing former professor of psychology - and then this new one caught his attention that it made him want to vomit but held it in. This was going to send Harley spiraling downwards, given Jonathan was alive and well...but it was worse than any of them could have imagined.

~o~

She was at work that day, going through a patient's file when her door was knocked on. One of her friends and the nurses, Danielle, came to see her with a frantic air. "Harleen, I'm sorry if I'm bothering you -!"

"No, it's fine," Harley said, though she was frowning. "What's wrong?"

"You got to turn the television on fast!" There was a forty-inch in her office, and she reached for the remote to turn it on to Gotham Insider. What she saw made her almost fall out of her chair. "I'm sorry, Harley," Danielle gasped, hands to her cheeks. "I wasn't sure if you saw..." But she no longer heard the other woman, and a part of her wanted to scream at her for even having the nerve to tell her about this - but at the same time, she was glad she was notified right away and knew she had to tell the others soon. And the end of the day wouldn't even come sooner as she wished.

Jonathan...HER Jonathan...was alive, but in a state worse than dead, in his mind and on his own body - as well as inside. He was naked, with a goon in black on top of him while he lay facedown, forced to look blankly at the camera screen while the brutal deed was done to him. His tormentor was urging him to scream, but when Jonathan didn't, gritted his jaws together, his rapist snarled that "either way, the boss will enjoy the scream from you. Isn't that what you enjoyed in your victims as Scarecrow?"

The camera tore away from the horrendous act, and there was the sneering chemical-bleach himself, humiliating Jonathan to the world as well as HER. "Well, ladies and gentlemen, there you have one of the many moments our dear former Scarecrow has been enjoying over the last month. And just to prove a point to him as well as to my dear little Harley Quinn: that is what you get for betraying me and getting what is mine!" He stuck his tongue out to the screen before turning it off altogether, but not before the "desired" scream from poor Jonathan in the background was finally heard.

Harley was no longer aware of what was going on anymore as she felt her head spin, her vision buzz, and she hit the ground, hearing Danielle's shrieks as the last thing.

God, I felt so sick even thinking about what happened to Jonathan. :( I still am, in addition to the headache I've had for a few hours. Add in the fact this is inspired by the last two episodes of Outlander season 1. But this is not the last of the story; there is more to come.