Harleen stood in complete shock as everything around her continued to move in slow motion. One of the police men rushed down to Robin and placed his hand over the gashing wound in a desperate attempt to save the boys life but the blood flowed too quickly. He had radioed for back up and a medical team but she knew they wouldn't make it in time. She pried her eyes from the gruesome scene before her to look over at the other police man with his gun pulled out and aiming straight for The Joker. J had seemed to have no concern for the gun being pointed at him. He just continued to laugh, throwing his head back in joy and clapping his hand together, as the other cop pulled his hand away from Robin and pulled out his gun and aimed it at J.
"Drop the knife!" One of them yelled. "Set it down slowly." J grinned and started to play with the blade in his hands.
"I just wanted to play." He pretended to pout then wipe the knife clean on his nice suite, "Not my fault I like to play rough." He bent down and set it gently on the ground. Before he could stand up completely, the cops were at his side, grabbing his arms and pulling him off to the side away from the body.
At this time, back up had finally arrived along with medics carrying in their supplies. The EMTs set their things down next to Robin and checked for a pulse. One shook his head as the other began walking over to Harleen. Her eyes stayed on Robin, replaying the last 2 minutes over and over in her head.
"Ma'am?"
There was so much blood. The body had a lot of blood in it, she knew of that but to see it spilled out on the floor was shocking to her.
"Ma'am?"
That was exciting! The most action we've had in weeks. Movies and TV doesn't compare to this. Look at that warm crimson liquid just oozing out of him. He sure does know how to treat a lady to a special treat.
You're vile. Harleen should never have been here. If you would have just stopped putting thoughts into her head about her and him we would have never been in this mess.
Me put thoughts in her head? We are her thoughts.
"Dr. Quinzel?" The voices stopped and allowed her to come to. Everyone had stopped moving in slow motion. The body was now draped with and white sheet. But the blood had seeped through.
"I'm sorry." Harleen looked over to the medic, "I'm sorry."
"Lets get you out of here and get you cleaned up ok?" The medic placed a hand on the small of her back and ushered her out of the room. She had looked back one last time to see police putting up yellow crime scene tape and taking pictures.
Once in the next room, she sat down in one of the chairs and let the medic clean her exposed hand and face. She could see her reflection in one of the windows, it looked like as if someone had dipped a paint brush in red paint and pulled back the bristles and let perfect small round drops land on her and her white coat. She held out her hands and let him run a clean cloth over her hands, taking off blood. She then closed her eyes when he began to wipe her face with gentle motions.
"Dr. Quinzel?" Harleen opened her eyes to see a police officer standing in front of her with a large evidence bag, "If you don't mind. Could I have your coat? It has evidence on it." Harleen nodded and shrugged off her coat and handed it to him where he placed it in the bag with gloved hands, "Thank you. We will take your statement shortly." He walked away.
"Okay, we are all finished here." She nodded as he began to pack up his things. Looking around more she noticed that Arkham and Leland were now there talking to the cops. She stood up and began walking over to them.
"I'm ready to give my statement now." Harleen crossed her arms in front and rubbed her upper arms. The cop nodded and flipped a piece of paper for a clean piece.
"Lets get some privacy." He motioned over to an empty chair and sat down where she sat down in the one across from him. She began to tell him everything from what she had seen and from what she could remember.
"And the pen? Did you know that it was a weapon?" He looked at her
Harleen shook her head quickly, "I had no idea. It…it was a gift." She looked down at the ground.
"A gift from who?"
"I…uh…I assumed it was from someone in this office. A secret admirer. I found it flattering but never found out who it was from." Harleen shook her head, "I didn't know, I swear."
The cop nodded and wrote down some more notes. Harleen tried to peer over and see if he was actually writing down her false statement.
"And did you ever get anymore gifts from that person?" He looked up at her
Harleen shook her head, "No, nothing. Everything went on like it had never happened so I didn't bother to pursue it."
The officer finished up his notes, "Thank you. If we have anymore questions we will contact you." As he stood up and walked away, she let out a breath of air and placed her head in her hands.
You could have told him the truth Harleen. You could have done something right.
And what would that have gotten her? Time in jail as an accessory for murder and knowing information on Joker. Yeah, real smart.
At least she would have a clear conscious and not live with this guilt he has caused her.
Joan walked over to where she was and sat down beside her, "Are you okay?"
Harleen just nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine. Collateral damage." She gave a weak smile, "My patient is back in custody. Another charge of murder will be put on his sentence. And I go back to treating him. All is right in the world." She smoothed out her shirt, "It's best that I get back to work."
"I think you should go home. Being here isn't the best thing." Leland looked at her.
"I'm going to have to come back tomorrow. Nothing will have changed. What has happened, happened so might as well stay and do some good. I already took off work last week when he got out. I still have responsibilities." Harleen stood up, "If you would excuse me." Joan tucked in her legs and let her pass. She walked through the corridors and headed to patient processing. There she found one of the orderlies finishing up placing Js' clothes in a bag.
"Excuse me? May I see that?" Harleen motioned to the bag. The orderly was hesitant at first but then slid the bag over. She opened it and began shaking out his clothes and digging in his shirt pocket then in his pants where she found a crumpled up piece of paper with writing on it.
'Come see me' Was written on it. The same hand writing she had found with the pen.
Don't do it. This isn't going to end up good.
She's gunna do it. The temptation is too strong to resist isn't it? ISNT IT?
Harleen shoved the clothes back in the bag and kept the torn piece of paper with her. She continued to walk down passing the showers and into the processing room where he was being finger printed and pictured all over again. His damp hair fell forward on his face. All traces of make up gone besides a faint residue on his eyes and lips. He stood there in his dark blue Arkham uniform.
"Oh doctor. I do apologize for such behavior." He grinned looking back at her, "Mother always told me to never act so heinous in front of a lady."
The guards shoved him forward where they forced him into a stained, off-white straight jacked, "Come on. Lets get you to you cell." He gripped his arm and began walking again. Harleen followed behind them, keeping to herself.
The four of them stood in front of the elevator and waited for the doors to open up. Once piled in, Harleen put in her code to get down into maximum. She held her hands in front of her, feeling his stare burn into her.
"You know, you never did visit me in my cell. Today is a special day." A loud laugh erupted from him causing her to jump a little.
"That's enough out of you." One of the guards said.
She heard him growl, "Oh we're just getting started."
Harleen turned around and looked at him then at the two guards, "Are you guys are done?" The doors opened behind her as she stepped out she showed her badge to the guard at the maximum security door. He opened it and let J and the guards go first and she followed suit. The four of them walked down the dimly lit hallway, thick acrylic glass separated them from numerous patients as they made their way down further. Eventually they all stopped at an empty one. The clear door slid open and Joker and the two guards stepped in. They unbuckled him from himself, allowing him to roam around his cell. As they stepped out the doors began to close once more. Harleen stood in front of him with her arms crossed over her chest. He continued to watch her with a blank stare.
"If you guys don't mind, I'd like to have a moment with my patient alone." Harleen looked over at the guards to which they nodded and began walking away.
"Doctor, doctor, doc-tor." J sang slowly, crossing his arms behind his back.
"How could you do that? In front of everyone!" She yelled
J began to shake his head slowly, "Why so upset doll? Everything worked out perfectly. Just how I wanted. You. Were. Astounding."
"No. I never agreed to this…" She began "…To murdering another person. I thought that-"
"You thought what?" J cut her off, "You thought that this gift meant something? Meant something more than my own plan to kill one of the Dynamic Duos?" He shook his head, "Oh Doc, I thought you were more smart than that."
Harleen bit her tongue in an attempt to hold back what she had to say. If he saw that his words got to her then he would win and that wasn't going to happen. She crossed her arms in front of her, "I'll see you in our next session. Welcome back." Harleen turned on her heels and walked toward the exit as she heard his laughter grow louder and louder in the distance.
A/N: I'm back guys! I know I've been MIA for so long and that's because I've had personal things going on like working and going to school full time and also not going to lie, I got a small writers block and I got kinda worn out on writing BUT I haven't forgotten about this story. Just needed some time off from it so I hope you guys like it. I know its short but it's something.
