Harley lay in her bed in the room she was all too accustomed to, her tear-filled eyes wide open, but completely lifeless. Beside her on the bedside table, she had the little plastic rose plant Ivy had given her for one of the many birthday's they'd spent locked away. Next to the cheery flower, the Joker's smiling portrait grinned out from the frame. Harley was oblivious to both of the uplifting items. The scene from the night Sophie was taken played and replayed over in her mind until she felt sick and dizzy. Harley blamed herself for the situation Sophie was in, and the more she thought about it, the more awful she felt. Harley had no doubt in her mind that Sophie would be killed, and it would be her fault entirely. If only she hadn't jumped into taking a "job" they knew nothing about just for the sake of a little cash, she would be out of the asylum, and Sophie would be safe. Harley had fallen into such a state of depression that she hardly cared about anything other than trying to get someone, anyone to help her find Sophie before it was too late. Although, the more people dismissed her as "crazy," the worse she felt inside.

Many of the doctors had come to try to and speak with Harley, offering her food and water, a chance to walk outside her cell, or any other numerous activities...anything to snap her out of the funk she was in. Harley angrily refused every offer or suggestion, usually bursting into angry tears while she screamed at them, asking them to please believe her story.

At that current time, all the other inmates were enjoying time out in the rec room, but after being asked yet again to join, Harley's responses were always the same, hysterically shouting and screaming, "I have to get outta here and find her, don't you get it? You gotta help me find her! Please! Please! She's gonna die! Don't you creeps care about a little kid?"

Dr. Leland, Harley's main doctor, had done her best to soothe Harley's feelings and prevent her outbursts, but she too could do nothing. Dr. Leland knew Harley was in even more shock and delusion than she'd ever seen before, and it didn't seem to lighten up even as the days went on. Harley was absolutely desperate for any of the doctors or guards to take her seriously about what had happened. Because her ranting and raving didn't seem to phase any of them, at times, Harley wondered if perhaps she really was imagining the whole thing, and Sophie really wasn't missing at all. This only made her more confused and withdrawn, and she felt more alone than she'd ever felt before.

A week later, as Tim and Barbara were delivering their latest "catch" to the asylum, Tim passed by Harley's cell, noticing her sitting upright in the bed with a blank expression on her face and tears on her cheeks.

"Hey," Tim commented to Barbara. "I didn't know Harley was back at the asylum! She looks...weirder than usual, if that's even possible. I wonder what happened?" He looked around carefully before speaking again. "I wonder if Sophie is here, too!" He whispered, his heart fluttering a little as the thought crossed his mind.

Barbara rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on!"

A doctor walked by just then, who seemed not so much younger than Harley. He saw Barbara and Tim standing in front of Harley's cell, and he smiled as he walked towards them. Seeing the caped crusaders made him feel at ease, somewhat. "Sad, isn't it?" He said, nodding towards Harley. "She's been like that since she got here. Does nothing but sit, cry, and mumble things to herself. She's also prone to having random screaming fits about how we're ignoring her. She's been raving on and on the past week and a half, convinced some crazy people kidnapped a friend of hers - Sweetie Pie."

Barbara and Tim gasped loudly. "What?"

"Yeah, but don't worry. We sent a couple of off-duty police down to investigate, but they found nothing. I hate to say it, but you know Harley's a little...out of her mind most of the time. She's probably just delusional and imagined the whole thing," said the doctor. "We're upping her meds soon, hopefully that'll calm her down and snap her out of it." The doctor excused himself then, walking away to another appointment.

Barbara and Tim wasted no time in talking with Dr. Leland as soon as they could, in order to find out more about what had happened. Dr. Leland was a bit surprised about how much Batgirl and Robin wanted to see her, and she was even more taken aback by their heated questions about Harley's current situation.

"Dr. Leland," Barbara said, after previously firing numerous questions at her, "I understand Harley's been here for over a week. Have you been able to do anything for her?"

Dr. Leland shook her head. "Absolutely nothing. She barely eats, barely sleeps. She's always in hysterics about Sweetie Pie. She screams that she needs someone to help locate her."

"Well,"said Tim, his voice raised out of anger. "Has anyone ever thought about, oh, I dunno, actually listening to her?"

"Robin," Barbara began, reaching her hand out to him.

"Could we speak with her?" Tim asked, avoiding Barbara's hand. "Maybe we could do something."

Dr. Leland shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid that's out of the question. Harley really just needs her rest, and I think she can't handle anymore stress right now."

Tim fumed more over Dr. Leland's answer, and he cleverly excused himself from the room before he exploded in a furious rage. He couldn't believe the doctors at the asylum wouldn't help Harley, especially this time. Despite the police finding nothing to prove Harley's claims of a kidnapping, Tim believed something really was wrong. If it had just been Harley getting accidentally caught by the police, surely she wouldn't have been in such a state of hysterics as she currently was. The thought of Sophie being hurt by whoever had taken her made his blood boil. He knew he had to do something, and he was determined to do whatever he had to.

Tim didn't feel the need to wait around for Barbara to finish her conversation with Dr. Leland. He knew being in the asylum would just make him more annoyed and irritated, and it would probably be in his best interest to get out of there as soon as he could. He made his own way back to Batcave in record time, ready to turn his plan into a reality. He was going to do the unthinkable - bust Harley out of Arkham. If no one else in Gotham would help Harley find Sophie, then he would. He knew his plan was risky, illegal, and crazy, but Sophie's life wast at stake, which was a good enough reason for him to break the law. He figured he was already a vigilante, so he might as well add "assisting in a prison break" to his long list of accomplishments. He began thinking of just what he'd need to break her out, and he began shoving random things into a black backpack. He was working as fast as he could, trying to avoid being caught by Alfred and Barbara. Unfortunately, he heard the roar of the Batcar enter the cave. He ignored it and he continued to shove things into the bag.

Barbara stepped out of the car, and crossed her arms over her chest. "Why on earth did you rush out of there like that?"

Tim stopped putting things into his bag and stared up at Barbara. "Didn't you hear what that doctor guy said? Somebody kidnapped Sophie, Barb. Or, was I the only one in the room who heard it?"

Barbara shook her head. "Allegedly kidnapped. Didn't you hear the last part of it? They already sent the police to check it out and they found nothing! You can't argue with reality, Tim. You know Harley Quinn hardly ever visits that."

Tim sighed, heavily. "Look, no matter how much of a psycho Harley is, you could tell something was really, really wrong. I'm probably the only one who believes her, and I'm gonna help her."

Barbara gaped at him, dumbfounded. "Oh, Tim. Please tell me you're not thinking about breaking into Arkham just to talk to Harley, are you?"

Tim shook his head. "Nope."

Barbara sighed with relief. Tim at least had some sense in him.

"I'm thinking about breaking into Arkham just to break Harley out," Tim replied, casually.

Barbara gasped, loudly. "Oh no, you're not! You're not going to break the law for her, Tim. Why would you even think about that?"

Tim sighed and looked at Barbara seriously. "I know what it's like not to have a family, Barb. You, Bruce, and Alfred are the only things I have as a family...kinda like what Harley and Joker are for Sophie. If somebody kidnapped you, and Bruce was thrown in jail, I'd do the exact same thing. I'd bust him out and do everything I could to get you back. Harley has no one to do that for her. Who knows where the Joker is, but I'm betting he's not lifting a finger for her." Tim zipped the bag and turned around. "I'm not just gonna sit by and let Harley suffer like that, no matter how much of a criminal she is. I'm going through with it, whether you help or not."

Barbara was completely speechless as she watched Tim head out of the Batcave. She couldn't believe what he was thinking. "Hey," she called after him after a moment, her voice stiff.

Tim stopped walking, but didn't turn around. "What?"

Barbara paused a moment before she spoke again. "You're gonna need a few more gadgets if...if we're gonna pull this off."

Tim turned back around to face her, a small, satisfied grin on his face. "Just what did you have in mind?"

Back at the asylum, the young doctor Tim and Barbara had bumped into walked down the corridor later that evening with Dr. Leland.

"You know, I just don't understand it," Dr. Leland said, as they stopped in front of Harley's cell. Harley had at least sat up in her bed, but the look in her eyes were blank, distant, and full of tears. "We've tried everything we can think of, with no positive results. I apologize to you, seeing as you're interning here at Arkham at such a bad time, Dr. Berry."

The young doctor smiled. "No apologies needed, Dr. Leland. I was interested in Miss Quinzel after hearing about how she fell from grace. I've also known about the Clown Prince of Crime, Joker for years. I'm surprised he's not here, as well."

Dr. Leland smiled a little as they began to walk away. "Yes well, he's been spotted a few times around town in the past couple of days, so I'm sure it's only a matter of time before he slips up and gets a cell here, again."

Harley blinked her eyes after hearing what Dr. Leland had said, as if coming out of a trance. She felt her heart beat a little faster, and she blinked again, harder this time. "Puddin'? He's...he's back from Metropolis?" Harley's eyes suddenly became bright and full of life, again. "Oh, this is perfect! I just know Mister J's gonna flip his lid when he finds out what that creepo Burgundy did. He'll help me get her back, I know it!"

Harley was beginning to feel like her old self again, thanks to the thought of someone finally helping her rescue Sophie. She had to escape from the asylum as fast as she could and return to the Joker. She knew he probably had the shock of his life to return to the hideout and find her missing. Harley didn't want to make him sick with worry - like the way she was with Sophie. As the hours ticked on, Harley contemplated her escape, and felt antsy as she waited for the right moment. She didn't have to wait long, as she spotted one of the security guards on his hourly patrol. She jumped up from her bed as he approached her cell.

"Hey, hey!" Harley cried, loudly, waving her arms in panic. "You gotta help me! I...I think I'm having a...heart attack!" She clutched her chest as the guard rushed over to her cell. "Oh, ow, it hurts, it hurts!" She wailed, rolling around on the floor, dramatically.

The guard gasped and in a moment, whipped out his key card, swiped it on the door, and rushed inside the cell and down to Harley's side. "Miss Quinzel, are you alright?" He gasped, placing hand on her shoulder.

Harley grinned, grabbed his arm and flung him over in the air, making his crash into the bed. He cracked his head on the side of the bed, knocking him out. She jumped up, grinning. "I am now! Thanks, pal!"

Harley slinked out of her cell and down the hallway, careful to dodge the other guards. She made her way to the storage area where the confiscated costumes and toys from the inmates were stowed. She found her costume and her fun little trinkets, grabbed them, and headed back out, her heart full of glee.

"Hey, where's Sorkin? I thought he was patrolling this way?" Harley heard a guard ask. She heard footsteps, then shouts of, "Harley Quinn's escaped! Sound the alarm!"

As Harley made her way down a hallway, she ran into two more guards. "Uh-oh, that's my cue to hurry up!" She grinned at the guards. "Top of the evening to ya!"

Harley somersaulted in the direction of the two guards, knocking them down as the security alarm blared in her ears. She raced through the building and made her way towards the entrance, but gasped in annoyance. There, standing outside of the door, were two unmistakable silhouettes - Batgirl and Robin, who seemed to be talking to one of the main night guards at his station.

"Oh, gimme a break!" Harley cried out. "There's no way those two coulda gotten here that fast!" She angrily rushed out the doors, knocking both Barbara and Tim off their feet. They were definitely taken by surprise, as neither of them expected to see Harley outside of the asylum before they broke her out.

"Harley?" Tim cried, jumping to his feet. "But how did you-"

"Because I'm smart, Birdboy, unlike you, apparently," Harley said, pointing her gun at Tim and Barbara. Harley didn't notice that the guard, who should have been wide awake, had been knocked out cold with a sleeping bomb defused by Tim.

"Wait, Harley! We just want to-" Barbara began.

Harley shot her gun, and out flew two ropes which bound Tim and Barbara together. "I know what you wanna do. You wanna send me back to the asylum! You don't think I don't know the routine already? Well, ya ain't doing it this time! I've gotta find Mister J, ASAP! We're gonna get Sweetie Pie back, and you two aren't stopping me!"

"But, Harley!" Tim yelled angrily after her.

It was no use, as Harley had already sprinted away. She had never felt happier, not only because she thought she'd foiled the plan of the Bat children of sending her back, but because she was finally going to get the help she needed and was going to see Sophie again, which warmed her heart again.

_

Back at their hideout, the Joker was even more annoyed after he had found out Harley had been taken to the asylum. He has specifically told her not to do anything stupid, but obviously, she hadn't listened to him. He noticed Sophie was missing as well, but that didn't interest him at all, and he was quite pleased she was gone. Then, he wouldn't have to deal with her without Harley around. After thinking about it a little longer, he was thoroughly enjoying the peace and quiet without either of the girls there. As he stomped on the hula skirt which had been strewn on the floor, the door to the hideout burst open, and Harley appeared, fully costumed and in make-up.

She rushed to him, panicking and out of breath. "Puddin'!"

The Joker laughed, a grin forming on his face as he scooped her up into a hug. "Oh, you clever little minx. You escaped from Arkham all on your own. That's wonderful. I was just...I was just thinking of a way to bust you out. Where's the kid?"

"Oh, Puddin'!" Harley cried. "We got no time to lose! While you were gone, some goons kidnapped her!"

The Joker gasped. "Kidnapped? Are you serious? Who in their right mind would kidnap a kid dressed like a clown?"

"I dunno, Mister J! Some guy named Burgundy," Harley said, her heart racing.

The Joker wrinkled his nose. "Burgundy, huh? What kind of a name is Burgundy? He must have had issues with his mother."

"It's his last name, Puddin', but that's beside the point! I think they're gonna kill her!" Harley said urgently, grabbing his arm. "He said he had orders from his boss, but...I don't even know who his boss, is!"

The Joker jerked his arm away from Harley, knocking her to the ground. "So, let's remember to send them a lovely little thank-you gift basket for getting rid of her, once we find out, okay?"

Harley gasped, her eyes wide. "W-what do ya mean, Puddin'? We...we gotta save her!"

"I'm not saving anybody, Pooh. Let Bargunly or whatever his name is and his boss have some fun with the kid. It's just one less annoyance around here," the Joker said stiffly.

Harley gasped, loudly. "Oh, Puddin'! You don't mean that! She's...she's gonna die! We have to do something!"

The Joker growled angrily at Harley, making her flinch. He jerked her up to her feet by her headpiece. "I'm not doing a darn thing, Harl. I'm sick of you thinking you call the shots around here. You can just get out, and don't come back until you get the idea of a rescue mission for the brat out of your system! But just a warning to you, don't come crawling to me for help, 'cause I'm not giving it!"

Devastated, Harley trudged out of the hideout, her eyes full of sad and angry tears. She now had no idea what to do. She had no leads, and with no one to help her, she felt more helpless than ever. ''I need help, I need help," she mumbled, walking down the dark streets. "What do people who when they need help?" She paused for a moment, then burst into a grin. "Well, it's worth a shot!"

Barbara and Tim had since escaped from Harley's binds and fled the scene, but Tim was fuming once more. After all of that, they never got the information from Harley they desperately needed. "I can't believe she thought we were trying to send her back!" He cried angrily. "I mean, of all the stupid-"

Barbara smiled a little. "I mean, you gotta understand where she's coming from. She probably just got spooked, that's all. But in the meantime, we've got other problems," Barbara said, pointing to the sky at the Batsignal which was now shining brightly against the night sky.

Reluctantly, Tim followed Barbara and they made their way towards it, wondering what crime had been committed at that time. As bad as he knew it was, Tim had no interest in helping capture any other bank robber or crook unless it was the one who took Sophie.

Tim sighed heavily as they soared through the air on their grapples. "But, what about Sophie? What're we gonna do about that? With Harley gone, we have no way of knowing anything!"

"Don't worry, we'll think of something," said Barbara, as they landed on the top of the building. They looked around for her father or anyone else who could have switched the signal on, but they saw no one. "That's odd,"" said Barbara, shutting off the light. "Who would turn on the signal and then leave?"

"Somebody who isn't exactly a friend of the law," said Harley, appearing from behind the light.

Tim and Barbara gasped and readied themselves with their weapons. They weren't taking any chances that time.

"Look, guys," said Harley. "I know we have our differences...and I try and kill you on a regular basis, but this is serious, now. I can't believe I'm saying this, but...I need your help. Bad. Ya see, S-"

Tim crossed his arms over his chest. "We know, already, Harley. Sweetie Pie has been kidnapped! Geez! I mean, why do you think we-"

"We'll help you find her," Barbara interrupted. She figured the less Harley knew about their attempted break-in of Arkham Asylum, the better.

Harley's eyes got wide, and she gasped, happily. "Oh, you will? Really? Oh gee, you two are the best!"

"Just remember, though,"" Barbara interrupted, carefully. "The only reason we're helping you is because you're the only one who knows any information about what happened, and a young girl's life is at stake."

Harley grinned and nodded. "Sure sure. Whatever you say, B-girl. So come on then, let's go!"

"I'm not finished yet," Barbara replied. "After we help you, you have to return back to Arkham where you belong. You're technically still a patient there, whether you escaped or not. And..." Barbara paused for a split second before she spoke again. "I'm taking Sophie back to the orphanage where she can find a family to take care of her."

Harley narrowed her eyes. "Going back to Arkham isn't a problem, Bratgirl, and I'll gladly do it if it means getting my little sweetie back. But, you're not gonna take her back to the orphanage. That's big no-no. I...I adopted her, right? Sure, I don't got no papers or nothing, but when we took her in, I took the responsibility to take care of her!"

Tim scoffed, the snooty pre-teen in him coming out full force. "Oh, yeah, right. You really took care of her, didn't you?"

Harley bawled her fists up, angrily. "Do ya think I'm happy about this, you stupid little brat?" Her eyes filled with angry tears. "Do ya think I wanted this to happen? Do ya think I wanted a nut job working for an even bigger nut job to take a huge piece of my heart away from me? The guilt is killing me up inside, especially when nobody in this stinkin' town is willing to help me!"

Barbara smiled, gently. "Look, we are going to help you, okay? But, under one condition." Barbara bit her lip a little before she continued. "Sorry."

Harley looked confused for a moment. "Huh? What kinda condition is sorry?"

Before Harley could speak again, Barbara kicked her right in her head, knocking her out cold.

When Harley awoke a little while later, she felt a stinging pain in her head. She gripped her temple, groaning in pain as she sat up. "Sheesh, Bratgirl. What'd you do, hit me with a ton of bricks?" When Harley's vision cleared, she blinked her eyes a few times just to be sure she wasn't dreaming. When her suspicions were confirmed, she gasped and jumped up, squealing like a kid in a candy store. "Am I...am I...really IN THE BATHOUSE? Oh my God!"

Indeed, Barbara and Tim had taken Harley into the Batcave, solely because they needed her to give them as much information as possible about who had kidnapped Sophie.

Tim covered his ears at her screaming. "Yes, you're in the Batcave, but if you don't stop shouting you're gonna collapse the whole thing!"

Harley covered her mouth in obedience. "Smmrr," She replied, which was a muffled equivalent of, "Sorry."

Barbara sighed and turned back to the computer she had been sitting at. "So, let's get started, Harley. What exactly happened?""

"Wmmm, wmmmrt, ggrekhe, btssf, svniuhtvt," Harley said, her mouth still covered by her own hand.

"Move your hand!" Tim and Barbara cried out in annoyance. Harley could really be dense sometimes.

Harley jerked her hand back. "Oops, sorry. Well, like I was saying, after Mr. J left for Metropolis, one of our henchmen gave us a note after they'd gone out on the town. It was requesting Sophie and I go down to Gotham Bay and meet him about a job. So, we get down there, and it's just some stupid guy we never heard of called Burgundy."

"Burgundy?" asked Barbara.

"What kinda name is-" began Tim.

"His mother probably hated him, I dunno. It's his last name anyway, ya twerp. Look, that's not important!" Harley cried, angrily. "So, this guy says he used to teach at Gotham Uni but got kicked out."

Barbara began entering information into the computer, and within a few seconds, had pulled up his record. "Here it is. Eggbert Burgundy was a professor at Gotham University, until he was fired after an incident with disorderly conduct and several accounts of student endangerment."

"Eggbert?" Harley said, crinkling her nose. "Geez, I guess his mother really did hate him!"

Barbara continued to scan the article for information. "Okay, so we know who the guy is, but what connection does he have with you, Harley? He wasn't a teacher when you attended."

"And why would anybody wanna kidnap Sophie?" asked Tim.

Harley bit her lip. "I dunno! But, he said he was working for somebody else. He said his boss wanted to do some tests on her. He said he wanted to test her until she...until she..." Harley's voice quivered, and she stopped speaking.

"Tests?" Barbara repeated, curiously. "Who would need to run tests on someone, and who would have the means to do so?"

Tim thought for a moment. "A doctor?"

"A doctor? But...but," said Harley, clearly more confused than she should be. "She's not sick!"

Barbara sighed. "Not yet, but from the sound it, if we don't hurry, she probably will be!"

Harley gulped, forcing the tears not to start flowing in front of her enemies. "I just don't get it! Who would wanna hurt a sweet little kid like her?"

Barbara sighed heavily. "We need to think, here. Do you have any enemies, Harley?"

Tim scoffed at the ridiculousness of the question. This was Harley Quinn they were talking about. She wasn't exactly one of the most likable people in Gotham.

"I mean," Barbara said, her teeth gritted at Tim. "Anyone who might have a personal vendetta against you or Sophie? A special gripe, grudge...that sorta thing?"

Harley shook her head. "Nah, not that I know of." She put her finger to her lip and thought for a moment before she spoke. "I mean, sure, I've shot at people, robbed, vandalized, but I think I piss off everybody equally, y'know? I can't think of..." Suddenly, her eyes got wide, and she gasped, covering her mouth with her hand in shock. She felt the color drain from her face. "Oh my God!"

"What? What is it?" Tim cried, in a panic. Given the look on Harley's face, he wasn't sure he wanted to hear.

Harley removed her hand, her heart beating wildly. "S-scarecrow."

"Scarecrow?" repeated Barbara and Tim.

"It's him. It's gotta be him. He...and Mister J were working together on something big, but he wanted more money than Mister J wanted to give him. Crane was pissed, naturally, and Sophie and I didn't make matters any better, 'cause we were joking about it. Especially me!" Harley couldn't stop the tears as they fell from her eyes. "I really pissed him off, and he threatened me. He said had many ways of making me suffer because I insulted him so much." Both Tim and Barbara were at a loss for words as Harley sat down on the cold ground, crying a little more. After a moment, she was able to regain some composure before she began speaking again. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, and when she spoke, it was like she could barely form the words. "Scarecrow hired Burgundy and his men to set up a fake job so they could take Sophie. Scarecrow kidnapped her because he knew how much she means to me. He said he had some new, stronger fear toxin he'd invented but hadn't tested it, yet. He's...he's gonna use his new toxins on Sophie, I just know it. He's gonna kill her because he wants to make me suffer. Just like he said!"

Barbara and Tim looked at each other, worriedly. They both knew Harley was right, and they both knew Scarecrow had probably already begun his testing. They were running out of time, with absolutely no leads whatsoever to where the Scarecrow might be.