Thanks to Neurotic-Isopod and Amy32687/AmeliaJade326 (or whoever you are today lol) you guys keep me going!
Another slower chapter (which will be important later) but I promise some lovely Joker/Harley interaction in the next chapter!

"Please Dr. Quinzel, I really must insist."

Dr. Arkham frowned up at her from behind the honestly alarming stacks of papers burying his desk. He looked worse than yesterday, in addition to the general haggard look of the overworked, his bloodshot eyes and fidgety manner hinted strongly of a few too many cups of coffee. "I understand your desire to see him but your safety is my top concern."

Harley sighed; they'd been going over this for nearly a quarter hour already and were getting nowhere. "Dr. Arkham, if The Joker was going to harm me he had ample opportunity to do so yesterday."

"He is completely unpredictable Harley." Behind her, Joan's calm voice did nothing to soothe the annoyance Harley felt bubbling under her skin. Why was Joan even in here anyway? Oblivious to her rising anger, Joan continued placidly on, "Yesterday might as well have been ten years ago to him; he might not even remember you."

Biting her tongue she choked back the quick reply that sprang to mind. When she'd marched in she'd had every intention of reporting Joker's rose like any good doctor would have done, but suddenly it just felt too…personal.

"I'm not going to go inside with him! What do you think he's going to do to me through safety glass?" This was getting ridiculous! Did they think she had no sense at all?

Dr. Arkham rose suddenly, shouting. "We still don't know what he did to Dr. Moore this morning!" She blinked, confused. Who was Dr. Moore? "You explain to me how he slashed a man's throat, covered the walls with bloody paintings and then refastened himself into his restraints in under thirty minutes!" She felt queasy yet strangely inspired, so that's what happened this morning!

"Doctor, please." Looking upset and concerned, Joan somehow still managed to calmly chastise her superior.

Not at all abashed, he snarled some more. "Besides he isn't even your patient!"

She vaguely wondered what exactly that had to do with anything. I wasn't going to analyze him, just to say thank you. They were both being completely unreasonable, and frankly rather offensive about this whole thing. She felt her own spark of anger glow ever brighter within. Glaring back at her fuming boss she jabbed her finger at him to punctuate her words. "I'm going and if you want to stop me you're going to have to fire me."

Rolling his eyes skyward, he let out an exasperated snort before falling back into his chair and dismissing her with a wave of his hand. Joan watched, her eyes full of worry as Harley triumphantly turned to go.

"Be careful Harley."



He twitched.

Whatever drug he'd been forcibly injected with was making his muscles spasm sporadically, an internal buzzing just annoying enough to counter the sedative they'd also felt compelled to share with him. If that idiot health inspector came today she'd see him awake and alert but calm, while inside he felt higher than a kite in quicksand. Bastards.

Moore had been worth it though. Certainly not the man himself, the brainless twit, but he'd had his uses. Not to mention it felt simply wonderful to get out and enjoy himself a bit. Maybe Bat-breath would find out and drop by for a visit! His excited laughter inspired groans from several of his long-suffering neighbors, groans he blithely ignored.

It was too bad they were just going to wash away all his art, that one with the school exploding was a stunning success, the detailed shading just right. It hadn't been easy to capture the true intensity of the all the bodies and brickworks being blown to bits with only the one color to work with but he'd managed. Besides, he'd never have gotten the right shade for her rose without Moore. Well part of him anyway!

Inevitably his drugged thoughts returned to the new doctor. He really wanted the crazy doll inside the doc to come out and play with him! Think of all the fun they could have! Not that he needed or even wanted a sidekick - that was the Dork Knight's shtick - but the more mayhem the merrier! Plus the damn henchmen were starting to figure out they were expendable which in turn made them totally unreasonable. During the last job, they'd actually demanded payment in advance! Afterwards he'd dumped their bodies in the river, funeral costs were simply outrageous these days.

He thought about simply escaping and dragging her along to toy with at his leisure. No, she'd been out there among the "sane" people for too long, undoubtedly most of their illogical ideas had already rooted deep into her delicate little skull. It would take some serious pounding to knock them out again. Not that he was against that by any means, it would just add to the fun but she'd probably be to broken to play with afterwards. Red and black, blood and bruises…Well, he'd just have to think of something else.

She was worth it.


No I'm not going to tell you which part was important, you'll see soon enough!