Chapter 19

Clara became aware again as sun streamed down into to the room, hitting her face with warm beams. She shifted and felt the pull of an IV in her arm.

Her eyes opened to find Joker passed out on an uncomfortable wooden chair by the bed. She could feel the soft brace on her wrist as she sat up. Her head swam for a moment but she powered through. She touched the purple pantsuit at the knee, attempting to wake the man.

Grey green eyes snapped open and Joker became aware of his surroundings. His eyes fell onto the young woman before him. The soft smile on her face was confusing.

"Hey," she spoke softly. "You look a mess. Why don't you shower and come to bed."

Joker frowned.

"You've been gone a while and you probably haven't slept in a bed, or showered. Go, and then come to bed. I still need to rest."

Joker sat stunned. Clara's reaction to him was perplexing, sending him off to shower and come to bed like nothing had happened. It was like she was wasn't aware of what happened to her.

"Do you remember what's happened?" he questioned tentatively.

"I killed a man and was left in the cage for three days. I'm guessing a doctor came to give me a drip and to tell you to be gentle to me for a while, if you want to keep me alive and able bodied. Come to bed Joker."

Joker snickered but nodded and stood up, stumbling to the bathroom to shower. "What doesn't kill you only makes you stranger," he mumbled as the hot water splashed down onto the dyed green hair.

Clara watched Joker leave the room. Her breath hitched and she fought not to cry; body trembled as she struggled to get herself under control. She scrubbed a hand across her forehead, pulling her knees up to rest her head onto them, curling up into a safe ball.

She was safe and recovering. She wouldn't be weak for long and she couldn't show Joker that she feared him. She needed to survive long enough for her father to save her.

The shower turned off. Moments later, Joker wandered back, towel slung low around the waist. Under normal circumstances, the body that Joker presented could have been part of an ad buy for a super model. All Clara saw was the threat of harm. Instinctively she curled into herself, keeping the blanket around her as though it would protect her from him.

Joker frowned at the image.

"Are you in pain?" he questioned as he picked up a clean pair of boxers, dropping the towel and putting them on.

"No."

She moved back in the bed, creating room for him to get in as he slipped into the bed, fighting the instincts that told her that she was in a dangerous situation. She'd been so stupid, thinking that she could outsmart the man. Arrogance was her down fall; arrogance and the belief that her father should have found her by now.

Joker curled himself around the young woman, aware of the IV still in her arm. She felt tense in his arms, more so than at other times they had shared a bed. One night she'd even been relaxed when he'd curled into her, putting her into the position of the little spoon.

The half mask on his face was uncomfortable, but well worth the discomfort as he feared blind folding his princess would cause distress and damage.

"The doctor is coming back tomorrow to check on your progress."

"Is he…. Is he an actual doctor?"

Joker smiled, kissing the back of her neck gently. "He's a mob doctor. One of the cousins or some sort. Has his license and everything princess."

She nodded, uncomfortable. They'd developed a bit of an ease to their relationship before… but that was before. Now she felt off balance and unsure, the Jokers moods violent and unpredictable. It would be hard to manage her anxiety reactions but she knew she had to. He would be displeased if she flinched from him.

"Did he say when I could take off the cast?"

Joker hummed behind her for a moment, pleased that she was talking to him, activity engaging in the conversation without any adverse reaction to what had happened. She was tough and capable.

"A week, maybe more. Depends on how it heals and what it looks like when he comes to see you. So no piano Princess, not for a while."

Clara frowned. The piano was one of the few ways that she could sooth him, made him feel more human to her. Without it, she would have nothing to pass the time and very little to amuse him with. In all honestly, she'd used music as a diversionary tactic so that Joker would see that she had more value whole and unharmed by sex and the violence he craved in sex. It had been a fine line, but she'd worked hard at staying away from the bed when he was aroused and excited so that she didn't attract this kind of attention.

Perhaps he would think that she was to sick… or at least to sick for sex until her hand was healed enough so that she could return to distracting him with her playing. She felt a little stupid thinking that her piano playing was what kept him from pushing his advances on her. He'd taken her because he was physically attracted to her. Joker had practiced on several prostitutes and other woman who looked like her so that he could maximized the enjoyment he'd get out of her.

"I can still play a little. Just with one hand though."

Joker smirked, "There's no need princess…. I'm sure that we can find other sorts of entertainment while you recover."

Her heart sank.

"Get some sleep. The Doc is coming after sundown."

The doctor arrived a few hours after sunset. Clara had fallen asleep for a long while after Jokers parting comments. She'd felt him fall asleep within minutes but her eyes remained open, body waiting for an attack, fighting against the need to flee his presence.

She became aware of her surroundings instantly, instincts active now that the dangers of being with the Joker had become very clear to her. He was speaking to someone at the doorway. The doctor she assumed.

She opened her eyes, not wanting to be at the disadvantage before this strange man. The room was light with soft lighting and candles, a table was set up where Joker liked to work.

"Ahh good, you're awake," commented the doctor as he stepped through the door.

Joker's eyes fell upon the beauty in his bed and couldn't help but notice the tiny flinch as attention was drawn to his princess.

The doctor, seemingly unaware, stood over the young woman, two fingers grabbing her wrist while he watched his watch, taking her pulse. However, Joker was not, the terror in his princess's eyes at the strange man made him frown and glare at the doctor. Only he was allowed to make his princess flinch, make her feel anything. Not this insignificant man.

"Heart rate is a little high, but under the circumstances, its fine," commented the doctor off-handedly. "Sit up please?"

Clara nodded, winching at the stiffness in her body as she sat up. The stethoscope wasn't a surprise, however it was cold against her skin, chilling her already weakened body.

A large hand held her chest as a voice spoke softly in her ear, "Breath in deep, then out slowly."

She flinched, fighting the sob that caught in her throat. She fought to get her breathing under control. She couldn't be weak. Eyes wide, she desperately tried to find something to calm down.

Joker grabbed her other hand, crawling over to her from the opposite side of the bed. The doctor had already moved away, taking three steps back. His eyes wide.

"Shh princess…. You're safe. Take it easy. I need to breath for me."

She flinched again, fighting to get out of Jokers arms. Instead they tightened, pulling her into his chest until her struggling stopped. It was pointless, she wasn't strong enough, even before her ordeal to fight against Joker. She sobbed, unable to control herself.

"Please," she whispered, although, later she would have been unable to tell you what she was asking – begging- for.

"Settle princess."

Her breathing evened out. She was exhausted, her mind relaxing from the terror. There was no point in fighting, and now that her body was exhausted, it could not fight back. She nodded.

Joker shot a look at the Doctor and he moved forward much more cautiously now that he had to share the same air in order to treat the young woman.

The stethoscope returned to her body, chilling her again.

"If you would breathe in deeply for me, and then breathe out. Take your time." He wanted to live past this night.

She breathed deeply and let it out slowly, curling further into Joker arms. His body was warm and she was chilled.

"Again," asked the doctor.

After a moment, the chill of the stethoscope was removed. "You can relax again. I'm going to ask you some questions. Answer them honestly."

Joker didn't let her move, keeping her safe against his chest so that he could physically support her. Her panic attack had bothered him.

"How are you feeling?"

"Tired… my muscles ache."

"That's likely due to the position you were in for so long. Light headed? Dizzy?"

"A little light headed, but no dizziness."

"Hungry?"

She shrugged, "I know I should want to eat… but I'm not interested in the idea of food."

"That's fine. Have you needed the bathroom yet?"

She shook her head, cheeks reddening. She knew why he was asking, but it felt a little awkward.

The doctor turned to the man holding her, "She's still dehydrated. I'd like to keep her on the saline drip with the anti-biotics, but you should start introducing fruit and soft foods. She's going to need bedrest for the next few days."

The doctor stood, gathering his supplies, and pulling out another five saline bags, with tiny anti-biotic bags attached to them.

Joker nodded. "How long until she's better?"

The doctor paused. "Depends."

Joker's eyes narrowed, "What do you mean?"

"It doesn't matter to me what you do to her, but depending on what games you want to play, depends on when she's healthy enough… if you want her to live."

Clara flinched. The casual tone from the man frightened her. It was heartless and uncaring. What frightened her even more was the fear that Joker would not let her heal.

"I'll remember that," he replied evenly. It would do no good to express his care for her. Being heartless was part of his reputation.

"Give her a week before any of the rough stuff. Anything before and she'll be sickly and I'll be here more often if you want her to live. Eventually, she'll just give out."

Joker smiled, of a mind to kill the doctor, however he needed him, "I wouldn't want to give her up to soon."

"Then let her rest. Take another woman to bed for a while, give her a week."

Joker nodded, standing up to lead the doctor out of the room and down the stairs. He handed over an envelope with money, a few flecks of blood scattered on in.

"I trust this will remain between us?" he questioned at the final landing.

"Of course. I was never here."

"Good, because it would be unfortunate if I told you about my scars," he grinned dangerously.

The Doctor paled, but nodded. "Of course. I'll be back in two days to check on her progress."

Joker nodded, watching the man leave. He turned to one of his men, "follow him. Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."

SPARKELS77 – glad your liking it. I love getting your reviews. J

Sinperbeattie – I will keep writing. Thank you for the encouragement!

NicholeRenee224 – I want to for their character development to be a bit slow. Its fan fiction and I think that most people are reading these sorts of things in order to have in depth looks at the characters interactions. Plus, I want their relationship to be complicated and that needs to be looked at closely. I'm glad that you are liking it. I love reviews!

Guest (Unknown 1) – the reaction I was looking for! I want people feel a little emotional about these characters. Means that you're connecting with my writing. Thank you for the review. I like reading them a lot.

Guest (Unknown 2) – I will save her, but Joker is no walk in the park! There's games on top of games; with deceptions and confusions. J I'm glad that you are liking it!

ForsakenStar22 – Thank you for the review and the support! I'm glad that you like it. J

grlvct – I welcome your obsession! Joker needs to be obsessed about; his mind makes my writing muse happy and interested. I'm pretty obsessed with writing it. I am trying to update regularly now that I've got the writing muse with me. J

Thanks everyone! Keep sending me the love please. I really enjoy your reviews! If I missed any one, Sorry! I'll try and keep on updating regularly. I'm at school however, in my fourth year and its super crunch time. 7 Papers! OMG.