Sad Clown

Chapter Five--Sweet Sorrow/Sweet Vengence


She watched as he called for his helicopter to pick him up at the top of the cathedral in ten minutes. The tallest cathedral in the world; no wonder it would take that long. And who's that blonde he's got with him?

For some reason, she was more angry at the blonde than at Jack. Who was she? Why was she with him? Why was he with her? What was he doing, fooling around on his "harlequin"? But she couldn't stay angry at him. What has he done to me? was her last thought doubting his sincerity towards her, changing into What is that hussy doing with my Jack?

Ten minutes later, the helicopter arrived. She couldn't see the woman he entered with even move; from the distance and all; but something wrapped around Jack's leg, bracing around a gargoyle. What was that jade doing? At first he appeared not to notice, but when he started to climb the rope ladder, he found that he couldn't. He was caught.

The helicopter moved up sharply, dragging the gargoyle off the ledge.

And he fell.

She screamed.

The next morning, Dr. Leland had found her, still staring at the television, whispering "Jack" very softly. The TV dinner she had so casually popped in the stove the night before had flamed out, reduced to cinders. She never noticed.

She spent the night among her own patients, never sleeping, never even crying, only whispering his name over again.

Over a while, she improved, returning to her old job, helping numerous patients recover from similar traumas.

But she never really got over it. Not totally; never totally. If anything, she only learned to mask the grief and pain with happiness. But it was still there. There, boiling inside her like a volcano of rage. Oh, no, not sweet little Harleen. Her, hide things from her fellow doctors? She wouldn't do that, not Harleen!

...maybe I don't want to be Harleen any more...

The cat nuzzling her foot brought her back to the street. The pavement was still cracked--she never really knew why she expected it to be whole. She still, even years after, never really believed he was gone.

"I'll never forget you, Jack," she said aloud, frightening the feline. She had to avenge him...but how? Often, standing in front of the grim monument, she would ask herself that, never arriving with an answer, but tonight...

Tonight was different. Something he had said to her...what was it? When he quoted Poe? When he offered to make her his Queen? No, after all that...

The last words he had spoken to her.

"Fare thee well, my harlequin."

Harlequin...harlequin...the word reverberated in her mind like the cathedral bells, which were striking one. Harlequin...Harleen Quinzel...Harley Quinzel...Harley Quinn...

Giggling like he used to, she skipped home, singing an odd waltz...

The End