Barry Quinzel was undoubtedly a complete opposite of his father, a good-hearted, honest, responsible person. Growing up in Brooklyn had taught him how to endure and survive. He was a good boy, listening to his sisters, keeping the boys quiet when their mother had returned home after a long day at work. He finished high school with great marks, maybe not as fantastic as Harleen's, but they were good enough. Later he graduated from college and got accepted into a police academy. He wanted to protect those who were weak, like his mother. He married a beatiful woman and lived the sweet life with the kids. Barry was a perfect example of a perfect man and that was why Quinzel didn't want to call him. The last time they saw each other was during his graduation ceremony.
Besides, she had other matters to worry about. She had actually considered helping Joker in whatever he'd planned. He'd told her to find his 'friend', Jonny. However, she had nothing to work with. She wouldn't be able to locate that man by herself. And if she helped the clown she'd risk everything she'd achieved so far, her job and safe life. She loved him, but he did not feel the same. Those sudden, grim thoughts made her uneasy. She was pacing around her apartment with a phone in her shaky palms.
Even if he didn't love her she would still help him. For some reason she felt a need to do whatever he wished, like he'd put a spell on her mind and body. She was still struggling against it, but her will was getting weaker and weaker. Just a few months back she was curious about him, but kept her distance. He made her angry when he started to talk about her father during one of their first sessions. She got mad because the painful memories came in a giant tide, suffocating her and because everything he'd said was true. Quinzel just didn't want to admit that the psychopatic criminal knew her better then her own family. He'd been put through a fair share of crap, too. That was why she started to regard him differently, she almost pitied him. The police detested him, the citizens of Gotham feared him and she sympathized with him.
Harleen sat down and dailed the number written on a crumbled piece of paper. She waited while listening to the beating of her heart. The clock in the kitchen was ticking loudly. After a couple of beeps a muffled 'hello' came from the speaker. The blonde shuddered and blinked.
"Hey, little brother."
There was a rustling. "Hey, Harls," he sounded surprised.
She didn't blame him. It was a miracle he still wanted to speak with her. She cleared her throat awkwardly, not knowing what to say. How was she supposed to begin? You don't ask your cop brother to aid you in breaking a criminal out of an asylum everyday. So she started out safely.
"How are you?"
"Good. I'm good. You?"
"I'm fine."
It was so awful. When they were kids it was hard to separate them. They used to be so close and still after all they had been through having a normal conversation was impossible.
"I've been thinking... Christmas is near so maybe I could stop by?" she suggested.
"Um, that'd be great."
Quinzel rubbed her face, stiffling a sigh.
"But there's something else. Spill it, Harls."
Barry could always see through her. He knew she wasn't just calling about something as silly as a family reunion, but he wasn't judging her. He simply acknowledged the fact that his sister wasn't close to him anymore. At least she called from time to time, unlike Katie.
It took her some time to utter an answer, her throat was clogged.
"I have a favor to ask," she finally mumbled. "I need you to find a person for me."
It sounded so stupid, but that was esentially what she wanted from her brother. She'd figured since he was a cop he had access to the police database. He could search for any Jonnys and give her some infromation about the man. She only needed a surname and his current location. She also knew asking for such thing was extremely risky, but she was ready to take that step. Barry used to be stationed in Gotham before he moved two years ago, so contacting his old colleagues shouldn't be a problem. It would be suspicious and strange if Harleen asked about it.
She hesitated when he inquired why she wanted all that information.
"He's an acquaintance of my patient. I'd like to talk with him, he could really help progress the treatment."
"And you're asking me to do it because...?"
"My boss might not have approved of it," she explained shortly.
Barry sighed heavily and her heart dropped. Harleen bit onto her knuckles hard and waited for his response. She was ready for the refusal. She would find another way. She'd walk to every night club in Gotham if she had to.
"Look, I can't give you any data," Barry stated. "I'm not allowed to. You gotta understand."
"I need to find this guy!" she was getting desperate.
An uncomfortable silence hung between the siblings. Harleen closed her eyes tightly and waited. Honestly, she was fine with being a selfish bitch. She spent most of her life relying on no one but herself, just like her sister and brothers. However, she'd been able to figure out what would make Barry happy and satisfied. He valued family above everything else. Harleen had to visit his household, smile widely and pretend to have a great time. He'd give her what she'd asked for and that would be the last time he ever saw her.
"We'll talk about it when you get here," he ended their conversation.
She tossed the phone on the sofa and let out a huge breath of relief. 'It could've gone worse,' she thought.
It was Friday. If she left now she'd be there in the evening. It would take more or less three hours without any stops. She had to purchase some presents for kids, too. The blonde headed for the kitchen, turned on her loyal coffee machine and began packing her bag. She put in keys, cash from the hidden spot and extra clothes. When she went back to the kitchen, the coffee had been ready. She poured the hot liquid into a thermos. Having checked if everything was in place, she put on boots and took her coat under her arm with the full bag on her left shoulder. She'd locked the doors before going to the parking lot.
Outside was very cold and windy. Although it wasn't snowing the temperature had dropped mercilessly low. The wind was blowing harshly in her face, making her scowl at the stinging sensation. Winters in Gotham were always hard to survive through. Snow blizzards had been the reason for many accidents and immobilisation of certain parts of the city in the past.
Harleen quickly went to her car, immeditaly turning on the heating. She rubbed her cold palms together. When she was driving to the nearest shopping mall, she concluded that getting Barry to do what she'd asked for wouldn't be as easy as she had thought originally. He wasn't a little boy who listened to everything she said. His answer to her request was so vague. A few cute smiles could be not enough. The doctor bit her lip in frustration.
When they were kids Barry followed her everywhere like a lost puppy. Luke and Charlie did the same, but the blonde got along better with the eldest boy. They all had obeyed Kathryn up until her departure. After that Harleen became the big sister, whose wishes were the brothers' orders. At first it was annoying to have three boys behind her back, but she came to like it. It gave the girl a sense of power. She enjoyed controlling her brothers. Of course her authority kept getting smaller and smaller and Quinzel turned into a grumpy, older sister.
The mall was crowded with people shopping for the holidays. She didn't want to spend there any more time than she needed to. Grabbing a bunch of expensive looking comics and books seemed like a good idea as she recalled the kids liked to read. A medium sized, sparkly snowglobe caught her eye so the blonde took it, too.
She drove carefully as she was sipping coffee from the battered thermos. Songs playing on the radio, the setting sun and steady rumbling of the engine soothed the young woman's nerves. There had been some traffic at the beginning, but the road cleared up later. It allowed Quinzel to cross the New Jersey state rather quickly. Just as she had predicted she got to New York in over three hours. Her watch said it was five past four.
Barry lived in East Flatbush near Prospect Park. The address she'd written down told her to drive in the direction of Rogers Avenue. Quinzel managed to squeeze her auto in between two cars in front of the houses. It had gone dark. She grabbed her bag and the presents. Next she passed a man walking his dog out and cautiously walked up the stairs. She rang the buzzer while balancing things in her arms.
"Hello?" a feminine voice said.
"It's Harleen," she replied.
As a greeting the doctor got smothered with hugs. There was a lot of squealing, too. She saw Anne grinning. Her friend looked quite different. Her hair was longer and she was plumper. Nicky ran to the hall with a shocked face.
"Oh, shoot! It's really you!" he exclaimed.
The kids switched their attention to their gifts, Anne went to prepare tea and Barry led the doctor to the living room. He had changed, too. He was muscular and much taller than his sister. His sharp face was covered with a dark, yellow beard. They sat at the mahogany table. He coughed.
"Mind telling me what's up with your request?"
"I can't enter the criminal database."
"No, you can't. Why do you want to do it in a first place?"
"It's for my patient. I told you," she drawled irritated slightly.
Barry stood up and went to the next room. When he was back he gave her a sticky note. There were several names scribbled on it messily. Jonathan Crane, Jonathan Summers, Jonathan Gomez and Jonathan Frost. Harleen raised her brows. Her brother had helped her after all. None of those names rang a bell though. It would be difficult to pick out the man she was looking for. Well, Crane wasn't him for sure. The lunatic psychologist had gone missing a while ago.
"I've selcted a few candidates. Anything seems familiar?"
Harleen shook her head, glaring at the paper. It could be any of them. Then Joker's words echoed in her head, his 'hint'. She had thought it was just another wierd joke. He'd told her his friend 'liked his women cold." Although at that moment it sort of made sense. It was Jonny Frost, it had to be him. The blonde pointed on his name.
"This one," she hissed.
Anne walked into the room, carrying a tray with mugs, the kids following closely behind her. Barry took the piece of paper and stuffed it into his backpocket. He also excused himself. She was left with his wife and children. The brunette began explaining how busy her husband was, being a detective and all. She was proud of him, it showed.
Jenny had made her way onto her aunt's lap. The girl's curly hair was tickling Quinzel's nose. They all sat together, listening to enthusiastic Nicky's stories about super heroes. He liked the comics he'd got very much. Later on the children went to prepare themselves for bed and the doctor stayed with her friend. When she learned that the shy, sarcastic Anne married her brother, it wasn't much of a surprise, but the timing was. The wedding was held only two months after Anne's college graduation. Not long after that Nicky was born.
The women talked about everything and nothing. Harleen let her friend brag about her amazingly talented kids she was blessed with. Jenny was excellent with mathematics, but she was into ancient art as well. Nicky, on the other hand, felt the most confident surrounded by history books. Perfect children conceived by perfect parents.
Barry came back at nine. Harleen was fixing pillows on the matress Anne had given her with an embarassed smile. He tossed a grey folder onto her lap. It was thin and signed as 'Frost, Jonathan, NY'. There were black and white copies of Jonny's criminal record inside. It contained a picture, personal information, fingerprints and his criminal history.
"Thank you," she said, truly grateful.
Barry only skinned, his face a stone mask. He knew she'd leave once she got what she needed. He knew all along and the blonde felt almost guilty.
She didn't sleep well. Once it got bright outside she got up. She dressed in the clothes she'd brought with her and folded the blankets and sheets neatly. Having checked if everyone was asleep she slipped into the hall. Quinzel was about to grab her stuff when she heard a murmur. Jenny was standing there, wearing her pink pyjamas.
"Hey, goofball. Did I wake you up?"
The girl's lower lip trembled. "Can't you stay?"
"No, sweetie," the blonde shook her head. "Someone I love is waiting for me."