Oh my goodness. It's been forever. I haven't given up on this story. I promise I will see it to its conclusion.
I hope you enjoy this latest update. Sorry it's a little on the short side…oh and it's very much rated M.
The knock on his office door drew Dr. Crane's attention from the fat file sitting splayed on his desk. Harley stood on the other side, nervously playing with her bracelet. When her doctor opened the door, Harley smiled, but remained silent as she paced in his office.
"We don't have to do this if you don't want to, you know."
Harley smiled meekly. "I have to see him. I don't want Mr. J to think I don't care."
Dr. Crane folded his arms. "Would he care if you cared?"
Harley giggled. "Probably not. I guess it's for my own benefit."
Dr. Crane paused for a moment, temporarily lost in thought. With a sigh, he straightened and moved to his desk to dig something out of the drawer. He threw the nametag to Harley who clipped it to the collar of her blouse.
"Dr. Heron?" Harley looked up curiously as she read the name. Dr. Crane smiled as he took a lab coat and tossed it to the bewildered woman.
"Yes, Dr. Heron. I can't just take anyone around with me in the asylum. So, congratulations. You're my new intern."
Harley giggled at the pleased expression on her doctor's face.
"Heron and Crane? Don't you think that's a little too on the nose?" Harley asked as her doctor escorted out into the hall.
"Maybe it's fate," he whispered into her ear. Harley sighed. This was a terrible time for Dr. Crane to start flirting.
As the pair made their way to the hospital wing, Dr. Crane toured Dr. Heron through the various facilities, impressing on her just how much he knew about everything and how little she knew about nothing. Harley bit her lip to hide her giggles and kept nodding with interest, playing the part of the curious student. She felt like the nervous young girl, once more enthralled with her doctor's intelligence and passion. Harley struggled to keep her mind on the task at hand until they reached a large metal door with a guard on either side.
"Now Dr. Heron, I would like to introduce you to our most dangerous patient at the asylum. You will be accompanying me on all my treatment sessions with the Joker." Dr. Crane held Harley's gaze and she nodded slowly in understanding.
"But Dr. Crane…don't you think it more appropriate for me to take on one of the…less significant patients?" Harley's voice shook slightly with nerves she did not have to fake. Dr. Crane was pleased that Harley had caught on to the show they were putting on for the guards.
"Dr. Heron, if you have any hesitation in the treatment of any patients in the asylum, perhaps a family clinic would be more your speed."
Harley felt a small ball of anger flare within her at the pretend insult.
"Of course not. Please…after you."
Dr. Crane nodded and waved his pass in front of a small, black box. A beep signaled the unlocking of the thick door. The guards stood to the side, waiting for any sign of jeopardy. When Harley was in, the door closed, and another beep meant entrapment.
Joker was turned away from the pair of doctors and staring out the window, lying still in his hospital bed. Gotham was having one of its rare days of sunshine. The rays reflecting on the clown's hair almost made him appear normal and human. Dr. Crane broke the tranquility.
"So, Mr. Joker, how are we feeling this morning?" Dr. Crane asked as he flipped through the updated charts. Joker didn't move.
"As well as can be expected Doc."
Dr. Crane nodded toward Harley, encouraging her to approach. The clicking of her heels on the cold tile, alerted Joker to a new presence in the room. Taking in Harley, lab coat and glasses, just as she was when they first met, made Joker straighten and flash his eyes.
"Well this is a sight. I must say, you're a much better view than the doc here."
Harley smiled as Dr. Crane continued to review the notes made by the few staff brave enough to enter the room.
"How you doing, Puddin?" Harley sat on the edge of the bed and gently held Joker's fingers in her hand.
Joker grinned and beckoned Harley closer. Harley hovered over the bed, so the two clowns were nose to nose.
"You miss me?" Joker whispered.
Harley giggled. "More than you know."
Joker's voice lowered to a growl. "Has the good doctor been taking care of you in my absence?"
Dr. Crane rolled his eyes and he harshly wrapped a blood pressure cuff around Joker's arm and began to squeeze.
Harley smirked. "We work well together."
Joker scoffed. "I'll bet."
Harley ignored him. "More importantly, I've been taking care of your syndicate while you've been in here."
Joker laughed. "That's cute Kitten. Got all my papers in order?"
"Actually, I've collected on all your debtors and have been consolidating your enterprises. You are now in control of the largest crime organization in Gotham. It even outranks Cobblepot's."
Joker frowned. "Why would you do that?"
Harley laughed in surprise. "Isn't that what you want? To be the King of Gotham?"
"I am the King of Gotham," Joker shouted angrily. Dr. Crane calmly noted the elevated blood pressure.
Harley balled up part of the bed sheets in her fists. "Not on paper you weren't. We were small time. Now, there is no one who can touch you."
Joker raked an impatient hand down his face.
"Harls, all I ever want to do, is live my life and make trouble for the Batman every now and again. How the hell am I supposed to do that if I have a giant Joker corporation to run? You've killed what little freedom I had left!"
Harley leaned forward, her eyes on fire. "Well since I'm the one who made this what it is, why don't I control it. You can run around with your little squeak toys and have Batman playdates while I do business with the grownups."
Joker tried to launch himself at Harley, but the pain searing through his body kept him planted in bed.
"You little bitch! How dare you think you can take me over? How dare you think that for one minute you are a tenth the crime lord I am?"
Harley's voice was barely above a whisper. "Watch me."
With that, Harley stood up and swiped her pass to exit the room. As the door slammed behind her, Dr. Crane finished checking Joker's vitals and hung the chart back on the bed. He quietly slipped his pen back inside his jacket and watched Joker punch his pillows in a vague show of trying to get comfy.
"What are you looking at?" he growled.
Dr. Crane smiled. "Just another patient."
Harley stomped into Dr. Crane's office and slammed the door behind her. She threw her glasses on the desk and paced back and forth, angrily pulling the clip from her hair and letting it fall loose. She couldn't believe Joker's reaction. After everything she had done to cement his position in Gotham, and all that fool clown could think about was his injured pride and the Bat. No one in Gotham thought Harley was in control. Everyone saw her as just another Joker stooge, but in the blink of an eye, it all changed. Now Harley was determined to take the empire for herself. She had something to prove. No longer would she be simply Joker's ditzy little sidekick. Harley was going to be the queen that everyone feared and respected. She would show them all.
Harley's train of thought was interrupted by the quiet clicking of the heavy, wooden office door being locked. She glared as Dr. Crane leaned against the wall with a bemused look on his face.
"What do you want?" Harley sneered. Dr. Crane's wolfish grin told Harley something wasn't right. This wasn't her doctor. He carefully folded his glasses and placed them on his desk next to Harley's. His approach was slow, but deliberate.
"Dr. Crane isn't here right now…"
Harley coughed out a suppressed giggle.
"…But if you'd like to make an appointment…" Dr. Crane paused and trapped Harley against a bookshelf, one arm on either side to block her escape. Harley grinned as she lightly tugged her doctor's tie free from his jacket.
"Hello Scarecrow."
He smirked. "Hi."
Harley moaned softly as Scarecrow bit and licked playfully along her stomach and back up to her chest. Her core felt numb with electricity. Harley had made quick work of the doctor's shirt and tie and now he lay on top of her, pinning her to the couch. Scarecrow bit Harley harshly on her neck, but her back arched in feeling his cool tongue soothe her new wounds.
"You taste just as good as I imagined."
Harley bit her lip to keep her groans silent at Scarecrow's hushed tone.
"He never let me play with you. He said I would hurt you." Scarecrow's long fingers teased Harley through her underwear, making long, unhurried strokes. Harley's laughter was broken up with gasps as fresh shocks of electricity flooded her. Her fingers desperately danced over Scarecrow's belt, trying unsuccessfully to release him.
"In a minute darling. I've waited a long time for this."
Harley moaned in frustration, but rubbed her hand against his pants, making Scarecrow growl. He slowly moved up until his lips danced across Harley's ear.
"Now I wonder Miss Quinn…" Scarecrow moved aside the thin fabric and teased his thumb over Harley's clit, making her squirm.
"…I wonder if this tastes just as good as the rest of you."
Harley cried out as Scarecrow slowly inserted his fingers, curling and dragging them in and out, making Harley see stars. She felt herself clamp down around him.
"Jonathon!"
Suddenly the hand stilled. Harley opened her eyes to see panic above her. Her doctor had returned. Dr. Crane sat up and quickly straightened to the other end of the couch.
"Harley. I am so sorry. He so rarely takes control like that anymore. I…"
Harley pulled her shirt back onto her shoulders, but didn't do it up. Instead, she sat on top of her doctor and wrapped her arms around his neck. Dr. Crane answered by holding her hips with one hand and gently inspecting her body for damage with the other.
"Did he hurt you?" Dr. Crane whispered. Harley smiled and kissed his cheek softly.
"No. I'm fine."
Dr. Crane remained unconvinced as he noted several fresh bruises on Harley's neck and torso. He brought his lips to one above her breast and kissed it softly. Harley sighed as Dr. Crane continued to press his lips to every mark his aggressive counterpart had left on her body. Slowly, Harley sank next to her doctor who had swung his legs across the couch and pulled her close to him. She rested her head on his bare chest as he stroked her back and continued to kiss her hair in comfort. Harley felt Dr. Crane's arms rest heavily against her back as his breathing slowed.
"Do you have other appointments today?"
"No…Because I knew we were seeing Him…I kept today open," Dr. Crane's voice replied sleepily. Harley snuggled tighter to her doctor and breathed in his scent of old books and fresh soap.
"Good."