Short chapter...need sleep. Thanks for reading. XD

Chapter 12

"I don't think this is a wise idea." Leland hummed as she overlooked Harley's request papers to become the Joker's lead psychiatrist. Only two or three had even applied and even then Leland wasn't sure she wanted to stick them in a room with that monster. "He seems to be a bit advanced for an intern and his violence streak worries me."

"Well, he did show a amicable response when he was questioned about psychiatrists he'd talk to. Even if she doesn't get very far, at least he'll be talking to someone without trying to kill them." Bartholomew rubbed his glasses in his hands. He didn't like it much either, but he was required to have the Joker see somebody for sessions. And he'd rather not put Leland in a room with that man. And Quinzel seemed like she was up for the challenge. "I think it'll work out. We've never seen him with a female doctor before. He might behave."

"I insist she gets a panic button and two guards just outside the room." Leland tapped the top of the desk. "And he has to be strapped down."

"Of course, I wouldn't dream of anything less. I also think that there should be a two sided window so they can watch the session."

"Thank-you." Leland nodded as she picked up her things. This was still a horrible idea, but they were running out of choices. She hoped Harley was up for this - or got frightened enough to make sure the session didn't make it past two minutes. "I'll go inform Harley she's up for a trial session."


"That is not what I ordered."

"It's close enough."

"No, it's not. I asked for a plain, grilled chicken sandwich with nothing but mayonnaise. This, is a fried chicken sandwich with the works." Crane poked the wrapped sandwich with his finger. "I even wrote it down so you wouldn't have to remember!"

"Look," Harvey licked his lip and stuck his elbow on the table to point at the doctor. "I ordered what you had on the paper, they put it in the bag and I left. Even if the order was wrong I wasn't going to risk being recognized to go back and fix the order. Eat it."

"What do you mean, risk being recognized? You've got your face covered. It's not like 'Harvey Dent' is the only person with face burns. And besides, you're dead remember? Even if someone goes 'Hey! That kinda' looks like Harvey Dent' their next thought will be 'But that can't be it! Harvey's dead.' The chances of someone actually knowing you're you is almost miniscule."

"Don't yell." Harvey opened his own hamburger to start eating. It was sad that they'd resorted to fast food. But they'd yet to find time to go grocery shopping and they were too low on cash for a lot of groceries. Crane picked up the order last time, so it was Harvey's turn. "It's just a sandwich."

Crane took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Harvey was right; he was making far too big a deal out of a wrong order. Scarecrow needed calm. Joker wasn't around, he had a new clean apartment and Harvey wasn't all that annoying. No need to get upset. "You're right, I'm sorry. Stress."

"We should work on that." It had been about a week since they 'escaped' from the Joker. They were both regretting not grabbing more money as the cash they stole was only enough to cover maybe two months rent. They could stretch it longer, but Crane had damn expensive taste about living quarters. "Do you have enough of that stuff to rig another game?"

"I do, but it's too soon." Crane stared distastefully at his sandwich. His stomach growled and he took a bite. He tried not to wince. "If I do it too often they won't brush it off as a coincidence and might realize they're actually poisoned. The adrenaline activation stays in the bloodstream for a while. So they'll still freak out for a while after the initial contact. It won't wear off for a week or so."

"So it does wear off?" Harvey brushed some crumbs from his new suit jacket sleeve. You'd think in a week he'd be able to buy a new suit, but some how that never fit into the equation. He was thankful the Joker hadn't broke out of Arkham yet. He'd probably find the little two-room flat he and Crane were sharing easily.

"Hmm?" Crane chewed and swallowed his bite. "It's based off an early formula. Almost all of my early works were designed for repeat trials. So, they eventually worked their way out of your system. It took about ten to fifteen repeated applications before the effects started to become permanent." Crane wiped a bit of mayo from his lip. "The batch I released in the narrows was one of the very few permanent poisons I'd created."

"Huh." Harvey sighed as it went back into the awkward silence that usually filled the room when they were in the same proximity. Things were fine when they went to their separate rooms, but when they sat together like this things always started okay and then dwindled down into silence. Harvey shouldn't be as bothered by it as he was, but he was used to social interaction. He couldn't talk to anyone for long periods of time or they might catch on to who he was and if he was going to reveal the cops of Gotham for what they were, it'd be more planned out. So that also destroyed any chance of talking with his old friends or going back to work.

And with Rachel gone...

"What's wrong with you?" Crane started to fold his sandwich wrapper. "You look like someone killed your dog."

All he had left was Dr. Jonathan Crane. Harvey almost wanted to cry. "Nothing, just thinking."

"Ah, well I'm going to go back to work." Scarecrow stood up and threw his food away. "I should be back in a few hours to go get dinner."

Harvey sighed and rubbed what was left of his hair and stared at the half-eaten sandwich. He had a few options. Either somehow get to know the doctor better or get the heck out and find some other friends. Harvey caught sight of half his face in the hall mirror. The burnt flesh stared back at him, along with the new scowl on his face. It reminded him of corruption and his own failed revenge. Dr. Crane it was. After all:

Harvey was one of the freaks now.


"Hello, Joker." Harley smiled softly as she sat across from the other man, table between them. The poor man was in a straight jacket and practically bolted down to the chair. It almost seemed excessive. The man didn't seem all that bad now that she was seeing him in person. Without the make-up he was even sort of cute. "My name is Harleen Quinzel, but you can call me Harley."

"Could I call you 'beautiful?'"

"Maybe," Harley smiled coyly. Seemed this patient wanted to flirt. "If you answer my questions, that is."

"Well, then. I'll see what I can, uh, do for you." Joker smirked inwardly. Little Harley had that look in her eyes that Scarecrow got once in a while. The one where she believed she was completely in control of the situation. Though, the little lady didn't pull it off nearly as well as his pet doctor. She didn't have the practice, or the face for it. "What do you want to know?"

"I want to know quite a lot," Harley smiled and held up her thick notebook. "So let's start with something you're comfortable discussing. Is there anything you'd like to share?"

"Um, not really." Joker laughed and tried to rock on his chair but failed. They even bolted his chair down. Excessive much? "I don't like sharing."

Harley tapped her pen. "You don't? What don't you like to share?"

"Anything." Joker leaned in as far as he could with the restraints. He could practically hear her pulse raise into the triple digits. Even her eyes dilated a bit. "Not secrets, not food, not toys, not games." Joker licked his lips. "And definitely not people."

"Ah." Harley's breath caught in her throat. There was something so deep in those eyes that just sent chills running down her spine. "Well, that's, have you ever considered why that is?"

"Not really," Joker leant back. He had the woman's rapt attention. She was right where he wanted her. His highness was right, she was way too easy. "But I have been considering your name."

"What about my name?"

"Well, if you, cut it short," Joker licked his lips. "Just a bit, you get something new."

"And what would that be?"

"Harley Quinn." Joker giggled. "Which is another way of saying..." Joker left the sentence hanging as open as a wound. He knew it'd come any second...and there, it -

"Harlequin."


Crane looked over his shoulder as Harvey walked into the room and sat in a corner. He had two chemicals in his hands ready to mix, but this odd turn of events was almost disturbing. They'd been roommates in for a week and they only time they'd talk was meals. What made him come in now? Was he going to attempt a very belated revenge for their time together with Joker? He spoke very slowly, because Harvey was still staring at him. Definitely unnerving. "Did you, need something?"

"Not really." Harvey started to flip his coin in his hand while Crane stared at him. He looked nervous and confused. The man wasn't very good at hiding his thoughts for someone who fooled all of Arkham. Maybe he was just out of practice. "I guess you could say I was just bored and watching you work is better than watching the wall."

"Alright." Crane turned back to his chemicals and tried to ignore the sound of the flipping coin and the feel of Harvey's eyes on his back. He really, really wished Harvey would keep the bandages on when he was at home. The open flesh was disturbing, especially when that large uncovered, unblinking eye was drilling a hole into your back. Crane set the test tube down on the table. "Okay, really - why are you here?"

Harvey laughed again and tried to calm down his breathing. For a guy he didn't like all that much, the good doctor did seem to make him laugh. And Crane broke pretty quickly all things considered. "I was thinking, that we should give some consideration to a real partnership in working together. We both need money to live, and we both have goals. Working as a duo just seems to be the best possible solution."

"And we should work together because?"

"A double-team is almost always better, isn't it?" Harvey smirked. "A bird in the hand is worth more than two in the bush? Two-timing Gotham could possibly be fun? Or-"

"Enough of the puns." Crane smirked and went back to his drugs. "Even that's two, too many."

Harvey laughed again.