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Chapter 12: The Man behind the Mask
Nightwing kept pressing the escrima to the Joker's temple, sending multiple waves of electricity through the now comatose man. The seconds stretched out to what seemed to be hours and Nightwing didn't seem to have any intention of stopping anytime soon. Joker's temples began to cauterize slightly and turn a bright shade of red.
"Nightwing! That is enough" Batman put a hand on Nightwing's shoulder and waited for his son to stop torturing a man who was unconscious and now was unable to defend himself.
"NO! HE NEEDS TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING HE'S DONE TO GOTHAM." Nightwing answered and kept pressing the stick to the Joker's temple.
"STOP IT! YOU'RE KILLING HIM!" Harley screamed desperately as she watched Joker's body become limp.
"Dude just stop… He'll get what's coming to him in Arkham. I know you want to kill him but remember that we are better than that… we DO NOT kill. Listen to me… I was an assassin and trust me, you don't want to start killing anyone today, it's traumatizing" Damian said as he kneeled down next to his brother. Nightwing blinked and took a deep breath. He slowly pulled the stick away from the Joker and quickly shut the escrima sticks off and put them away.
"Good, we'll talk about this later Nightwing" Batman glowered displeased with his son's behavior. He Looked around the room and realized the camera was still rolling.
"Damian, shut that camera off…" Batman said and kneeled down and placed his arm gently under his neck and used his other one to lift up the criminal from under his knees.
"Let's take the clown back to the circus" Damian said quietly as he shut the camera off.
….
"Hello?" Harley laid on her couch trying to relax as she watched season 3 of Orange Is the New Black on Netflix. She had been given the rest of the week off from work and she was trying so hard to forget the past week and forget that The Joker almost died just some days ago. She was scared that he would escape again and put himself in danger again. This worried Harley, and kept her awake for some nights now. She couldn't understand why she cared and worried so much for this man. But she liked to believe that the reason that she cared so much was due to the fact that she believed he could be rehabilitated and that the good man that was deep, deep down inside would show himself to the world.
"Hi Harley! It's Bartholomew… just checking up on you" Bartholomew said with a new level of enthusiasm that made Harley's head throb.
"Umm… Thank you... I really appreciate it. I'm doing ok... haven't really slept in a few days." Harley sighed into the phone and closed her eyes,
"I'm sorry to hear that… I know you need to rest, because for some ridiculous reason all these horrible things seem to only happen to you… but we need you back tomorrow morning."
"Oh yea… I guess I should get out of the house… I haven't really moved from the couch." Harley slowly smiled and quickly fluttered her eyes open.
"Hahah then I don't feel so bad in telling you that Poison Ivy hasn't stopped asking about you". Bartholomew chuckled lightly into the phone before continuing. "You have been an excellent doctor for Pamela and she has been a lot calmer since you started treatment with her."
"It's all thanks to you and all the opportunities you guys have all given me…" Harley sat up on the couch in order to speak more clearly. "Even though, it sometimes seems like I'm never at the asylum…." Harley looked down and sighed deeply.
"But the time we do have you around, you give your best" Bartholomew tried to reassure her.
She needs to come back… things have gotten weird around here and Pamela… and plus maybe if Harley goes to see The Joker, maybe he'll be able to wake up….we need him to be awake-He nervously thought to himself. He stood up and sighed loudly into the phone.
"Is everything alright?" Harley asked as she became aware of his sudden silence.
"Umm well sort of… not really" Bartholomew confessed
"What's wrong?" Harley immediately stood up and a wave of uneasiness ran through her.
Did Pamela try to kill Bruno? Or did Bruno try to kill Pam? Or, did Jessica try to kill Pam while she as trying to kill Bruno. Either way someone probably tried to kill someone else- Harley began to imagine different scenarios that would make Bartholomew this agitated.
"Well umm, you know Batman's sidekick?" Bartholomew began nervously.
"Ugh yea" Harley rolled her eyes as she exhaled deeply
"Well, then you must remember how a few days ago, Nightwing sort of made his animosity towards the Joker extremely clear. The amount of electric shocks through the Joker's temple that traveled into his brain was pretty strong and made some bad damage and he's comatose…" He slowly said and quietly waited for Harley's reaction.
"Oh shit…" Harley muttered and flopped back into the couch
"Pamela said that if you came back and visited The Joker maybe he would wake up. We all need him awake." Bartholomew quickly explained
"I can't guarantee that I'll be of any help." Harley's heart began to ache heavily and a lump began to form on her throat. She just couldn't understand that a so called "Hero" caused the Joker to remain in a coma where no one knew when or even if he would ever wake up again
"It doesn't hurt to try…" Bartholomew tried his best to sound positive and hide his desperation. Harley was their last hope for the Joker.
"Fine… I'll go see him" Harley quickly ran her hand through her hair and began to bite her lip while nervousness overcame her.
"Thank you… we really appreciate it" Bartholomew gleamed excitedly. "And I understand how hard it must be for you due to current circumstances and all… so this favor that we are asking you has absolutely no string attached."
"Oh, alright thank you"
"Joan and I were talking to the board of directors and we came to a decision that will benefit you and your future well- being."
"And that would be?"
"Well we decided that we are going to assign Joker to another doctor…."
"NO!" Harley loudly exclaimed
"Umm what?" Bartholomew shot a perplexed look towards the phone
"I mean no, no. That won't be necessary." Harley took a deep breath and began to slowly explain. "I think I need another chance"
"But Harley…" Bartholomew began to protest
"No, please hear me out" She nervously pleaded. "I only got one session with him, and he actually gave me a small detail of his childhood and I believe that if we continue with the treatment, it's only a matter of time until we can help him. He has potential for rehabilitation and while he serves his sentence here, he can learn to become a respectable member of society." Harley firmly concluded her statement and waited anxiously for her boss' decision.
"You know what? You are right. You only got one session with him before he escaped. And you have been doing a remarkable job with Poison Ivy. I'm going to talk to Joan and to the other members of the board and tell them that The Joker will receive treatment from no one else but you." Bartholomew smiled and stood up to grab a pile of paper work that titled "Patient Transfer Form"
"Thank you, I promise that I will do anything that I can to help him" Harley began to grow more and more excited as the seconds passed.
"Yea I know. See you first thing tomorrow morning alright?" He stood up and walked over to the trash can
"Yes of course. Thank you" Harley said almost squealing excitedly
"Alright, take care. Bye" Bartholomew hung up and threw the papers away.
Harley hung up the phone and swung her legs around the couch in order to lie down. She smiled and closed her eyes.
I can't believe I'm going to work with the Joker again. - Harley thought excitedly. She began to remember how different he was only with her than when he was trying to put on a show for the whole city to see. She really liked the man he was deep inside and she believed that way past the murderous psychopath laying on the surface, a sensible and caring man was hidden and had potential to come out.
"But only time will tell" Harley sighed out loud and began to remember the first time she laid eyes on him and she tried to remember the exact color of his eyes, but for some reason couldn't picture them. As she concentrated really hard to do it, and as the minute passed she fell asleep remembering his emerald green eyes.
…
"I'm very happy to have you back Dr. Quinzel" Joan Leland shook Harleys hand firmly
"Pleasure to be back" Harley smiled warmly
"I have to be honest, when you first arrived, I dint think you were ready to start treatment with the joker. Not because you weren't qualified or anything like that it's just that you seemed sort of young and I wasn't sure if you were ready to start with someone so complicated, but now that I see your wonderful progress you have accomplished with Pamela Isley and I am very impressed. Now, it took some convincing to get you reassigned to the Joker and keep treatment with Pamela. But I'm sure that you will exceed our expectations like you have been doing so far." She warmly smiled down at Harley.
"Thank you, I can assure you and all the members of the board that the Joker will receive the best care" Harley nodded with confidence and kept walking to her office next to Joan.
"Well that is if he wakes up…" Joan rolled her eyes.
It WOULD be of uttermost convenience if that criminal never wakes up. Gotham will become a better place once it's cleansed of the bad influence that the Joker brings. - Joan thought to herself as she and Harley kept walking to Harley's office in silence.
THIS BITCH… that is just so messed up. You just don't say that about anyone, no matter who they are or what they have done. - Harley turned and gave a strange look to her coworker and shook her head.
"Well thanks for walking me to my office, I really appreciate it. And thanks again for giving me another chance with the Joker." Harley smiled as they both stopped outside her office door.
"Yes of course. I mean, if it was up to ME… that clown would have faced the death sentence loooong ago. But anyways I have to get going, I have an appointment with Bane and he's difficult to talk to." Joan started to walk away from Harley "You have a nice day " She said as she turned the corner and walked pout of Harley's sight
That woman has some serious issues- Harley shook her head and unlocked the door to her office. As she stepped into the dark room, she felt odd as if someone was in there with her.
"Hello DR. Quinzel." A man said from the shadows.
Harley gasped and backed towards the wall, to search for the light switch and as soon as she found it the room illuminated quickly, blinding Harley for a second.
"Batman?" Harley said her face twisting in confusion "What are you doing here?"
"Just wanted to check on The Joker. Has he woken up yet?" Batman said flatly
"You know there is a wonderful invention called a phone." Harley walked to her desk and set her purse and some paperwork down. "Not to be rude or anything, I just almost had a heart attack."
"Well, sorry. But you haven't answered my question." Batman crossed him arms impatiently
"No, he hasn't waked up but…" Harley began to explain
"Have you seen him?" Batman asked flatly
"No, I haven't seen him…" Harley shook her head
"They say that when a loved one is near a patient, the chances of his awakening increase" Batman shrugged his shoulders and gave Harley an expecting look.
"Why does everyone think I can wake him up?" Harley asked annoyed and looked down to the ground.
"Because we have all seen the impact you make on him and you are the closest thig he has to a oved one." Batman walked over to the wall and leaned casually on it.
"Yea I doubt it, but whatever. I promised that I would try" Harley said nervously biting her lip.
"How are you and your friend doing? I know it must have been hard for you both being in custody of that monster." Batman was concerned for the women he and his sons had just rescued days before.
For some reason, Harley did not like the way he called the Joker a "Monster". She didn't like the way Batman called a person a monster when he himself was not the best example of normally in this town.
He dresses up as a bat for fucks sake! - Harley thought in annoyance and she was really close on giving Batman a piece of her mind but she was interrupted when Bruno barged in through the door.
"Harley we need to talk…" He began to announce but stop dead in his tracks when he saw Batman standing there. "What the fuck? What are you doing here?" Bruno asked in a demanding voice.
"Is that your boyfriend?" Batman turned towards Harley
"Definitely not." Harley crossed her arms and turned to glare at Bruno
"Well not yet" Bruno corrected in a smug tone.
"What makes you so confident?" Batman stepped towards Harley with authority. Bruno, being the coward he is, began to back up and put his hands in front of him
"Whoa man that was just a joke. Calm down" He rolled his eyes
"I was leaving anyway" Batman pushed past Bruno and out the door.
"Aren't you a little whore" Bruno said with a confident smirk on his face. "Jessica was right" He began to chuckle quietly
"Oh, now I am a whore? I wasn't the one who ditched you for some frat boys. Let me remind you that you were the one who ditched me for some sluts." Harley placed her hands on her hips and glowered angrily at the guard.
"When are you going to get over that?!" Bruno raised his voice almost to a scream
"Can you shut the hell up?" Harley walked over to the door and held it open for Bruno. "Please get out of my office, I have work to do."
"Man, whatever. I just didn't know that giving Batman blowjobs was part of your job" He said as he walked out. Harley slammed the door angrily behind Bruno, shaking the whole frame.
"UGH" Harley cried out loud. "I hate him!" Harley walked over to her desk and slammed her hands down in complete anger. "I wasn't even doing anything with Batman…" Harley rolled her eyes and sighed deeply and rolled her eyes.
…
"Jessica!" Bruno shouted and ran to the guard's station full of excitement.
"What's going on?" Jessica sprung to her feet
"I have news" Bruno was too excited to share what he had just seen in Harley's office
"About?" Jessica began to stare at him, getting lost in his eyes. Her heart began to pulse faster as she slowly looked him over. She wanted him so bad and was willing to do anything to get what she wanted. And what she wanted right now was to get rid of all her competition, which was Harley.
"Harley" Bruno sat down in his chair and briefly glanced over at the security cameras before grabbing Jessica's hand and powerfully pulled her down to the seat next to his.
"Ugh, look I really don't want to talk about that bitch. Especially if you keep telling me that you guys are probably getting back together…" Jessica rolled her eyes expressing her annoyance.
"Hell no. That's definitely out of the question now… You were right about her" Bruno smiled with admiration at his partner.
"I was?" Jessica furrowed her eyebrows in confusion as to what Bruno was talking about. All the information she was feeding Bruno was fake.
"She IS a slut like you said." Bruno nodded excited to share everything
"Of course she is." Jessica wrinkled her nose in disgust
"I know! I just saw her in her office and guess who was in there with her?!" Bruno began to spill the gossip.
"Bartholomew? Eww I knew it! She probably wants a raise or something. Gross." Jessica raised her eyebrows and pretended to be astonished.
"Eww no! She was in there with motherfucking BATMAN!" Bruno nodded as Jessica processed this information in her head
"What the hell?! Oh my God that girl is too desperate" Jessica began to laugh
"I know! She was probably just thanking him for saving her stupid ass from the Joker a few days ago" Bruno joined in laughter with Jessica.
"Yea and we all know what that means…" Jessica laughed and put one had into a tight fist as she raised it to her mouth and began to motion it back and forth twice. She began to laugh again and shook her head lowering her hand.
"Hahah wow come on, it's not like you have given one before." Bruno laughed at her attempt at pretending to be giving a blowjob
"What makes you so sure" Jessica smirked confidently
"You don't seem like the type who would." Bruno smiled at her
"How about I show you" Jessica stood up and pulled Bruno up with her.
"What? Now?" Bruno gave her a questioning look
"Yea, it's still early, some doctors haven't even showed up yet. I'll be quick I promise" Jessica began to pull him down the hall.
"OK then, let's go to the supply closet. I got the keys" Bruno smiled while he pulled out the keys form his pocket.
"Good" Jessica smiled flirtatiously. As soon as they reached the supply room, Bruno quickly unlocked the door and Jessica slipped in. Bruno stayed behind and looked around, being careful that no one had seen then go in. When he was sure no one was around, he stepped into the dark room quietly shutting the door behind them.
….
"Pam… I don't even know how I'm supposed to go through with this..." Harley sighed while she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"It's ok to feel nervous and scared… I mean everyone is expecting you to wake him up but we don't even know if that is even possible" Pam half smiled and gave Harley a sympathetic look.
"It's just hard to understand why everyone thinks he cares about me enough that it will wake him up…" Harley shook her head trying to clear her thoughts in order to understand
"Why can't you believe it?" Pam asked not understanding her reasoning.
"Well, there are a handful of reasons…. How about when he bombed the place where I work, or when he pointed a gun at my head trying to get away from Batman, oh I have a good one, how about the time he kidnaped my best friend to lure me in so he could kill us both in from of the whole fucking city" Harley exasperated threw her hands up and placed them behind her head. "I mean I think that's reason enough to believe that this man down in the infirmary does not care for me. Quite the opposite actually, he wants me dead." Harley slammed her hands down on her desk, making loud thud and making her wooden pencil holder fall over, spilling a handful of pencils and pens to drop to the ground.
"Well isn't that just LOVELY" Harley stood up to see the result of her little outburst. She walked over to the mess and bent down to clean up. Pamela kneeled down and helped her in complete silence.
"Thank you" Harley said and shot her a small smile as they both stood up and went back to their seats.
"I know you may think that this man wants you dead, but trust me when I tell you this: If the Joker wanted you dead, you would already be 10 feet underground in a grave." Pam coolly explained before giving her the same expectant look Batman was giving her hours before.
"Hmm… well yea I guess you are right." Harley nodded in acceptance and sighed, "I don't even know what um supposed to"
"Just sit there and talk to him. People in comas can hear you even though they can't wake up, they can still listen to you… at least that's what I've heard" Pam shrugged her shoulders and smiled
"Yea I guess I can do that… doesn't seem too hard" Harley sighed again and began biting her lip.
"Will you stop that?" Pam abruptly said making Harley jump from the intensity in her voice
"Stop what?" Harley furrowed her eyebrows
"Feeling sorry for yourself!" Pam stood up and walked over to where Harley was standing, her red hair dancing like fire behind her. Everyone understands that he might not wake up. And we are not going to hold it against you if you can't get him to wake up. Ok? Now stop feeling bad and keep your shit together because one day won't have anyone watching your back and you are going to have to learn to watch out for yourself. So it's better that you start doing that now" Pam concluded her statement by shooting Harley a stern look that made her face turn pale. Harley was suddenly aware why everyone was so scared of Poison Ivy. She was just so powerful, even in situations where she would be considered powerless; Pam still had that authority in her and was ready to bring it out when she had to.
Harley looked down and furrowed her eyebrows, and in silence she considered every word that left Pam's mouth.
"Look, I'm sorry if this was a little harsh, but you gotta understand that sometime you have to get shit done, even if you don't want you. Sometimes you have no choice" Pam slowly walked over to her seat and crossed her arms.
"No, you're right." Harley smiled and nodded "I guess I kinda needed that little pep talk. Thank you for being so honest and you know what?"
"What?" Pam raised one eyebrow and smiled happily at her doctor.
"Now I see why a lot of people are scared of you… you are a badass" Harley laughed lightly and Pam joined in louder.
A small knock interrupted their laughter; Jessica opened the door stepped inside the room.
"Sorry to interrupt" She said in annoyed voice "I have to take your…" Jessica looked over at Pam from head to toe with a disgusted look on her face "Patient back to her cell." Jessica shot Harley a fake smile, as she walked over to Pamela, Harley took one look at her and nodded but did not return the gesture.
"This bitch" Pam muttered under her breath and rolled her eyes
"Do you wish to share something with us?" Jessica said as she forcefully pulled Pam's arms behind her and cuffed her before she could make any sudden moves. Pam took a deep breath and tried to keep herself from grimacing, but the way Jessica had pulled her caused her a lot of pain.
"Jessica, may I remind you that you do not work at a circus to be treating my patient like an animal. I will inform Bartholomew of your uncalled hostility and your rude behavior towards my patient. He will inform you of your punishment to teach you to treat the patients with care." Harley trued to imitate Pam's tone of authority. Judging from Jessica's expression, it seemed to be working. Pam gave Harley a really big smile and mouthed the words: Thank you
"Fine, sorry" Jessica stepped back and slowly pulled Pam out of the room.
"Bye Harley" Pam said as she disappeared through the door. Harley laughed lightly and went back to her desk. She looked over at the clock on the wall and she began to feel butterflied in her stomach when she realized what time it was.
"Bartholomew will be calling me any minute now I guess…" Harley took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She concentrated on her breathing, as this took her mind off her nerves. Not long after the phone began to ring. Harley startled by the sudden loudness in the room jumped and rushed to pick up the phone.
"Um yes, Hello?" Harley was so nervous that she began to run over her own words.
"Harley? Are you alright?" Bartholomew asked concerned for this young doctor.
"Yes, thank you" Harley caught her breath and began to talk in an easier to understand pace
"Good. I hope you are ready… Its time"
….
It had been a few days since Harley had been visiting the Joker in his room at the infirmary, but no progress had been made. Harley was beginning to lose hope that he was going to wake up. Since the first day that she stepped into his room, she couldn't seem to stop thinking about him. Now sitting in a chair next to his bed she couldn't help but feel sad and afraid of how vulnerable he looked. She Harley sighed and closed her eyes. She began to remember the first time she walked into this room.
"Just talk to him… you'll see that he'll be up and running in no time" Bartholomew had said and walked out of the room. Harley had walked over to the bed and stared down at the Joker. She was shocked at how less intimidating he looked while he was unconscious. She looked at him and concentrated on the beat of the machines. While she stared down at him a nurse walked into a room
"Sorry to interrupt Dr. Quinzel, I have check on him." The petite nurse had said as she rushed over to the patient. Harley had stepped back to let the woman do her job.
"Why didn't you guys take his make-up off" Harley asked the nurse in confusion.
"He has never let anyone see him without his make-up and he has killed doctors who have tried to order his make up to be removed. I know this is the perfect chance to do it but if he wakes up and sees that we have exposed him, he will for sure kill us all. We don't want to take chances" The nurse had calmly explained and Harley silently nodded as the nurse walked out of the room, leaving them alone
Harley blinked back to the present and stared at him again. She slowly reached for his hand but she immediately retracted without touching him. Her eyes watered and she blinked her emotions away.
"Hi… it's me, Harley" Harley began to speak "Look, we need you to wake up. I miss you" Harley confessed and let a few tears escape her ocean blue eyes. "I have to confess that since the first day I walked in here, I can't stop worrying about you. I want to see you smile again" Harley wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm scared… scared that you might not wake up, and then what am I going to do? You have made my life a lot interesting" Harley chuckled lightly and let herself cry again. I can't believe I'm saying this but, I need you…" Harley wiped her tears again. She looked around the room and then back at him. She looked down at his hand and she took a deep breath
Maybe if I touch him, he'll wake up…. - Harley though and began to slowly reach for his hand. She slowly took it in her hands and examined them.
"Wow you are really pale…" Harley laughed lightly, she intertwined his fingers and hers and she pulled his arm up so she could feel his hand with her cheek. "Please, I know you can hear me… please wake up." Harley quickly kissed his hand and hoped that it might bring a reaction in him. She waited and waited but nothing happen, the room had grown uncomfortably silent and Harley dropped his hand. She quickly stood up and walked over to the window. She started at Gotham, the day was ending and the sky was now a beautiful orange and pink color. Harley couldn't help herself from crying. She pressed her forehead on the glass and she sobbed quietly for a few minutes. When she finally stepped away from the glass, her head began to throb and the sky was now closer to dark blue than to an orange. She leaned back on the window and stared at the Joker. She shook her head and walked over to the door, she grabbed the handle but before she pulled the door open, she turned to give him one last look. Suddenly she rushed from the door and walked into the bathroom of his room. She pulled the towel off the rack and ran the water in the sink. Harley grabbed the towel and placed it under the water. She walked back to the room and slowly approached him. She climbed in bed with him and began to place the damp cloth over his face. She slowly began to wipe the clown make up of his face. She didn't think twice about this decision, she was so desperate to see him, the real him. Even of it was for once and only time.
The cloth wiped away the white make up, exposing his skin underneath. She kept wiping away until his clean face was exposed. Harley stepped back to look at the man behind the mask. She dropped the towel and she gasped loudly.
He… is beautiful. - Harley couldn't find the words to describe him. She slowly examined his face, her eyes trailed from his pale skin, his lips, the scars around his lips that made it seem like he was always grinning.
I never imagined him like this… I really have no words. And I though he was a lot older… but he looks like he might be like 32 or 35 or somewhere in between… - Harley was still mesmerized about what she saw and couldn't to staring
"You aren't a monster, I see the real you now and I can tell you firsthand that you are not a monster" Harley began to talk to him. She went on and on about how handsome he looked and she didn't realize that his hands were beginning to twitch. Harley bent over to pick up the towel and walked over to the bathroom; she ran the water again and raised the soiled rag. Once finished she left in it the bathroom sink and excitedly walked back to the room.
He was standing up, touching his bare face. When she walked into his view he turned and flashed his emerald green eyes at her in complete displeasure.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" He screamed and lounged for her throat.
