She ignored the looks her fellow doctors gave her the next day. It didn't matter that much to her anymore. She simply strode by them and took no notice of their whisperings. She didn't want to hear what they had to say about her.

"I'm glad to see that you're looking a bit better," Mr. Arkham said. "I trust you'll work to your fullest for your other patients. I'm still counting on you, you know."

"Yes sir. I know."

Yes, she was still doing her job. But somehow, she felt lighter, almost as if she were doing this all for the first time. It was like some part of her was beginning to emerge ever-so-slowly from within her, just starting to become aware of what was going on around her.

She ate her lunches alone, no longer really desiring Mr. Arkham's company. She still liked him…kind of, but he was sort of beginning to get on her nerves with his constant pawing and prodding. She could see why Mr. J had criticized him the way he had. Still, he was still her superior and she did still have a lot of respect for him.

She often took Sammy to work with her, letting him watch her with his button eyes as she sluggishly completed her paperwork at her office. It was just like old times.

But she still longed to see Mr. J. Already, the rose he had sent her was beginning to die, in that way that most fragile plants do, and she could feel herself grow hungrier to feel him again, to hear his voice.

She wished he would come claim her as his own again. It was getting truly dull around the asylum, wiping the noses of all the psychos and lunatics she dealt with. But it always helped to smile and find something to laugh at.

Laughter truly was the best medicine after all.

XxX

She liked going to the park in the afternoon, watching the world go by around her. There, she could think of her Mr. J without the stares of her peers. Sammy sat next to her on the bench, propped upright into a sitting position to stare into space with long cocked ears and bright eyes.

That one afternoon, she rested there on the bench and took out the letter he had sent her days ago, cherishing the fact that his scent still lingered on it. It was cloudy despite the sunlight that had been present the past few days and the air was cool. Summer was beginning to turn into autumn. She hoped to be back at her Joker's side by winter. That would be nice.

A woman darted by, freeing Harley from her daydream. The woman was utterly gorgeous with long, lovely red-hair that shined and blew in the breeze. She was inspecting the grass, searching for different kinds of flowers and fussing over any paper or plastic bottles that she found on the ground. It was kind of a silly sight and Harley felt herself giggle a little. Then the woman was gone, scurrying off to search for more plants, muttering to herself all the way.

Harley felt herself begin to drift away again, shutting her eyes briefly as she listened to the birds chirp from the trees. This park was the only part of Gotham that was actually good. There was no corruption here, no foolish people or crazies or Batman. Just life and nothing else.

When Puddin' rules over Gotham, she thought lazily, I'll have to make sure to ask him to give me this one bit of land. He'll have so much turf already, I'm sure he won't really mind.

She imagined the day when Mr. J would finally come into power, crushing all the stupid law enforcements and the Batman. He'd be a great ruler. He'd show these people what life truly was. He'd make them see the joke that was all around them. And she would be glad to remain his faithful follower, sticking by his side through it all.

Mr. J…

BOOM!

The building across the street exploded.

People ran and screamed, darting this way and that way as smoke and fire began to rise overhead. Harley had frozen in her seat, her eyes wide as she stared at the pandemonium in front of her.

A bang. Gunfire, this time. And there he was.

Out of the smoke came her Mr. J, four men in clown masks right behind him. He was holding out his knife, waggling it around and licking his lips as the crowds cleared and bolted away.

Harley was so glad to see him that she almost fainted. From across the street, his eyes met hers and he came forward, the boys aiming their guns all around to cover him. Her heart beat loudly as she came forward also, shyly, but happily.

"Mr. J…"

"Hello, my pet. Did you get my present?"

She wrapped her arms around him and was about to kiss him when she paused, nervous that someone would see her.

"It's alright," he said. "Look." The smoke from the building had created a sort of mist around them, hiding them from anyone who tried to spot them. Delighted at this prospect, Harley covered his face with kisses, kissing his cheeks, his nose, his scars. He chuckled and ruffled her hair, putting his forehead against hers. It felt so good to be close to him again.

"I miss you so much, Puddin'," she whispered. "I feel like dying without you. Let me come with you."

"Can't now, I'm afraid. The police will be here soon. Besides, you're not quite ready just yet. You need more time to…think things over…" His eyes gleamed.

"But I wanna go with you now! It's hurting me being away from you!"

"Sorry, my dear. All good things come to those who wait. I'm afraid Sammy will have to be the only one for company for now. But until our time is up…" He whirled her around and nipped at her, taking in her scent. "Don't worry. When all of this is over, we'll have LOTS of fun. Lots of ah, 'ha-ha' if you know what I mean." Her grinned devilishly and she felt her body shudder slightly, anticipating what he meant.

She could hear sirens in the distance, but they still sounded too far away for her to care. She was just content to be near him for the moment, even though she knew it wouldn't last. She closed her eyes and rested her head on his chest, listening to his breathing as he held her. He growled low in his throat, scowling at something, and held her tighter, almost tight enough to hurt her.

"He's here," he murmured with a smirk, half-peeved and half-delighted. "Ooh boy, he's here…"

"Huh? Who's here?"

"Batsy. He's up there on the building next door. On the roof. No, don't move, Harl. Let Daddy figure this out."

"Boss," one of the masked men said, most likely Cutter. "I think he's going to charge us. What do we do?"

"I never thought I'd like this, but looks like I've got to have a plan. Harley, stay still and look like you're in pain. Yes, like that. Now keep quiet and let me do the talking. When I'm done, I want you to cry out in pain, sound like you want nothing to do with me."

"But Mr. J—"

He squeezed her roughly, making her cease all protest. Then he tipped his head upwards towards the dark figure that was regarding him from the roof.

"Hey, Batsy, my boy. It's been a while, hasn't it? You can't begin to imagine how much I've missed you. But you never call and you never write. What a shame. Oh well, look what I've got here. My little Harley-girl. It must be humiliating to know that the police beat you on the wild goose hunt to find her. But don't you worry, Bats, you get a first-class view of watching me steal her away again."

Then, on cue, Harley let out a discomforted cry, keeping her voice nervous enough to sound genuine. She made fake attempts to struggle from out of his grasp, uttering phony cries of distress.

Then, like a black bullet, the figure swooped down and stared at Mr. J from behind that dark, pointed-eared mask. This was a shock for Harley as she had never seen the Batman in person. Now she was seeing him for the first time and she couldn't have been more repulsed. This was the man that caused Mr. J so much trouble.

"Let her go," the Batman said in a low, hoarse voice. It was as if he had swallowed a broken bottle. "Leave her out of this."

"As far as I'm concerned, Batsy, this is between all three of us. Poor Harley here might get hurt if you come any closer." She could feel Mr. J's breathing grow rapid, evidently from excitement. In the distance, the police sirens were getting closer and closer.

Mr. J seemed to hear them as he cocked his head to listen. "Ah tut-tut. Looks like you've got to make a choice, Bats. Harley alive or me back at Arkham. Your choice." He pressed his knife against Harley's face, making her try not to smile in exhilaration. Behind him, the boys were all pointing their guns at the Batman, ready to fire at any moment.

The Batman stared into Harley's face, his dark eyes meeting her baby-blues. It was enough to send a shiver down her spine. Even desperate, the man carried a sort of frightening air to him.

"Give me Dr. Quinzel," Batman said gruffly. "Give me her and leave. But I will still find you wherever you go. I promise you that."

Mr. J giggled. "As you command," he said and he release Harley and shoved her forward. "Looks like we'll be going now. We'll have to schedule our little meeting later, Batsy. How's Thursday sound to you?"

"When I find you, you're going back to the madhouse you belong in."

But Mr. J only roared with laughter. "Whatever you say. Come on, boys. Let's get going. Au revoir, my sweet Harleykins. Goodbye, but not forever." He grinned, waved his knife and then disappeared into the smoky fog with his henchmen, laughing loudly all the way.

"You're safe now," The Batman told her, oblivious to the look of longing on her face as she stared into the distance for Mr. J. "The police should be here soon."

She blinked and stared at him, her eyes cold and emotionless. "Maybe you should stay here too. I don't know what kind of a world we live in where people in bat suits get to just run free."

"Dr. Quinzel, I'd advise you to keep as far away as possible from the Joker. He's incredibly dangerous and he could kill you next time he finds you. He's completely insane and you do not know what he is capable of."

The nerve! She knew Mr. J better than anyone else! They had shared secrets with each other, had recognized that they were more alike and more alive than anyone else in Gotham. And where had this dear, darling dark knight been? Searching around blindly in the dark for her without any success. No wonder everyone was against him. She could feel hate for this man surging through her, making her blood hot.

"I was perfectly alright until you showed up, sir," she said to him coldly. "I could handle him. He didn't frighten me."

"Don't be foolish," he replied, his eyes glowing. "The Joker is no ordinary man. To have him interested in you is not a good thing. He must be captured and locked away as soon as possible."

"Then why don't you go then? Why are you wasting your time here with me? Go on, I'll be fine now."

The Batman, staring at her for a long slow moment, tilted his head to hear the sirens and then gave her a quick nod. Pulling out one of his devices, he pointed it towards the roof and was gone in a moment, leaving her alone as the police pulled up to the sight.

"Hey! You! What happened? Have you seen the Joker?"

"No," she said, watching the dark figure vanish into the shadows in pursuit of her beloved Mr. J. "I didn't see anyone." She walked away, leaving the hapless cops behind to scratch their heads and try to scrutinize the area.

That damned Batman had ruined their little reunion! He was nothing but a menace, not fit to be Mr. J's opponent. She hoped that Batman wouldn't catch Mr. J today. She hoped that Mr. J had managed to get away quickly enough. The thought of Batman hurting him was enough to make her head reel.

I was so close to going back to being with him again. Stupid Batman! Stupid, self-righteous, intimidating, arrogant moron! Mr. J is worth more than fifty of him!

She kicked a rock into the gutter on her way back towards her apartment, gritting her teeth and balling her hands into tight fists. Glad as she was to have seen her Puddin' again, she could already feel herself yearning for his presence again once more. That stupid Bat…

She threw her work briefcase onto the chair of her apartment and put Sammy on the bed. Staring out into the horizon, she glared at the city, feeling waves of anger pass through her, making her want to rip and tear and attack.

Batman! If you ever try to hurt Mr. J, I'll make you wish you had never been born!

She laughed loudly at the thought, imagining herself pushing Batman into a tiger pit or a shark pit like she had seen in the old hero/villain cartoons. Her eyes seemed to glow an eerie blue light as she giggled softly, echoing out the window.

This city is Mr. J's and his alone! His day is coming when he'll finally dispose of you at last! You'll see…then you'll see how foolish I am then.

She cackled and felt that pleasurable shift within her move once more, making her bolder, stronger.

Had she looked at herself in the mirror, she would have seen a stranger staring back at her.