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"I hate this," I muttered to myself.
"What was that, Catwoman?" Oracle asked.
"Nothing." I sat back in the chair, and looked around the cave. Since Sheila had taken over for me as Batgirl, I had monitored Oracle's communications from the cave. I would much rather be out there, doing my duty, but I had to reluctantly agree - a pregnant Batgirl would not be an effective crime fighter. I flipped the speaker on, and started to repair equipment.
"LoBoys sighted. Six of them. They're following … eight women leaving the Chemistry building," Batgirl reported.
I clenched my fist, and pounded on the worktable. "The LoBoys are closing on the women. Weapons drawn. They're going down an alley between the Chemistry and Physics buildings. In pursuit."
I touched my headset, and said, "Batgirl, I suggest you attack from above. It's the most effective … "
"THANK you, Catwoman. I'm a bit busy at the moment." I heard the click of her headset disconnecting.
"Good move, Big C," Oracle said. "Batgirl, come in, please."
"Batgirl, come in, please."
"Batgirl, come in."
I touched my headset, and said, "I'm going to get her."
"No, you're NOT! Batman, Batgirl's in trouble. University district, alley between the Chemistry and Physics buildings. Six LoBoys, eight victims, weapons present."
"On my way," he replied.
There was a click, and Batgirl's voice. "Victims rescued, medevac requested for one LoBoy, six victims and myself. Four LoBoys escaped."
"I'm three minutes out," Batman said.
"Get the LoBoys. They were headed east toward the Student Union."
"Copy. What's your status?"
"I'll live," Batgirl sighed. "I got winged by a gunshot, and a bayonet cut on my thigh. I don't think I can ride."
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"Damn you, Selina! I wouldn't have gotten winged if I hadn't stopped to take your advice and come in high on those LoBoys! What's worse, that delay put three of those girls in the hospital!" Sheila was clearly pissed when she saw the medical report.
"I was only trying … "
"Why don't you try to do something about a problem you CAN solve?" Sheila demanded. "What about Harley and Pamela? I know you've done your best with Harvey, but what about the other two? They need help, and they're certainly not getting it in Arkham! Why not take those deductive skills, and those Wayne billions, and instead of agonizing over yourself and your inability to bust heads, try FIXING them! You can see the rationality if you look!"
"But they're criminals! They're dangers to society! They need …"
"So are people that drink and drive! They get help if they want it! Why not Harley Quinn? She's separated from the Joker - keep her separated, and get her some help!" Sheila said. "Is she more dangerous with Joker, or without him?" I started to say something, and Sheila cut in, "You need me being Batgirl more than I need to do it. I can go back to Lady Justice, or even quit this and stay with my day job!" She leaned over my chair, still in full costume, and added, "The point to this is to get them off the streets, and ultimately cured. I've done the groundwork. All you need to do is sign the check."
"This will cure them when Arkham has failed?" I snorted in disbelief.
She shrugged. "In criminal law, you see the seamier side of human existence. The places I want to send them are expensive, but I've had good results with other clients." She stood and faced me, crossing her arms on her chest, and admitted, "I know Harley is a former shrink. Maybe it's a game to her, but it's still a better chance for them than those quacks at Arkham."
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The door opened, and Harley came in, wearing a yellow jumpsuit and shackles. She shuffled over, and eased into a seat. The guard locked her belt to the chair, then closed the door. Harley smiled, and said, "Hey Cattie! Howya doing?"
"About as well as could be expected. How are you?" I asked.
"Bored, and I miss my Mistah J."
"Why? Why do you keep running back to him, Harley? You're a smart girl, surely you can see that you're too good for him," I asked.
"But … I love him! He's so sweet … " Harley looked like a lovesick teenager.
"Harley! THINK! Does he love you? If he loved you, wouldn't he have broken you out by now?" I asked. "If he loved you, would he keep using you as a punching bag? How many times have you been hospitalized after one of his rages?"
"Once or twice, maybe …"
I snorted. "Yeah, right! I looked it up. Try SIXTEEN! Seven of those he almost killed you! You were in intensive care for weeks because of his attacks. Did you press charges?" Harley shook her head, and I demanded, "Why not?"
"He said I needed discipline. He said … "
"Did he ever, even ONCE, tell you he loved you? Did he ever do something for YOU?" I sighed, and said, "Harley, what have you done for this obsession? You've thrown away your life, your career, your home and family for him, and what do you have in return?" I gestured, and said, "You're wearing a hideous yellow jumpsuit with GOTHAM JAIL stenciled on the back, shackles and leg irons. What do you have to look forward to?"
Harley opened and closed her mouth a couple times, then broke into tears. I sighed, and looked around the room, seeing a box of tissues. I fetched the box, placing it in Harley's reach. I let her run down, then asked, "Harley?"
"Y … yeah, Cattie?"
"Can I make a suggestion?" She sniffled and nodded, and I continued, "You know you're sick, and those idiots at Arkham aren't helping." She gave a soggy chuckle, and I said, "How about someplace else?"
Harley blew her nose, then asked, "Where?" I fetched a trash basket, and she took some fresh tissue.
"In the Alleghenies." I motioned to the brochure, and added, "Really nice place, and I've checked it out thoroughly." I pulled a brochure and a report out of my file folder, and let her read it, sitting back to rest my feet.
"Sounds nice, but I'm here, and I couldn't afford it." Harley pushed the report back to me. I put it in the file, then pushed it over to her.
"That's your copy. Sheila's cleared it with the guards. I want you to make an informed decision, and don't worry about the money. I've gotten Wayne to cover it, if you agree to co-operate." Harley looked at me, and I smiled at her, and added, "As far as the court goes, you remember my lawyer, Sheila?" Harley nodded, and I continued, "You agree to it, she'll work her legal magic, and you'll be transferred there."
"And if I don't agree, or decide to break out?" Harley asked.
"If you do, you go to Blackgate, instead of Arkham. You've seen that place." We both shuddered. "If you co-operate, though, it's a lot nicer place."
"For as long as it takes," Harley said bitterly.
"For as long as it takes to help you, Harley," I said.
"I don't have much of a choice, do I?"
"Between getting some help, possibly getting a second chance, and going back into the cycle of Arkham, breakout, Batman and back to Arkham? No, not really. Do you want to think about it?" I asked.
"Yeah. For a coupla days, ok?" Harley clutched the file, and I stood up, and called the guard.
"One last thing, Harley." She turned in the guard's grip, and I said, "When you get in the shower tomorrow morning, count the scars that Mister J's given you."
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"Good Morning, Harley!" I said.
"Hey, Cattie! How ya doing? Gawd, you're big as a house!"
"I feel like it. Pregnancy is Not Fun." I eased myself down on the dayroom couch, and put my feet up on the coffee table. I sighed, the baby kicked, and I winced, then opened my bag. Harley looked relaxed in sweatpants and a tennis shirt, still wearing her signature pigtails. I noticed she wasn't dying her hair blonde, though, leaving it her natural brown. I gave her the April first edition of the Gotham Post, and then a letter. I added, "Sorry the letter's opened, but the guards wanted to check it."
"S'allright," Harley said. "We get the local paper, but it's nice having one from home. Who's the letter from?"
"Pamela. I saw her a week ago. She's doing ok, and got your letter. They tried her with a small herb garden, and she did some nasty things. She hasn't adjusted as well as you have," I sighed, and motioned. "The details are in your letter. I'm just saving a stamp by bringing it to you." I grinned, and asked, "So, what are you doing?"
"Takin' some college courses over the 'Net. Gotta keep my mind occupied, and I got a letter from my family. They're glad I'm here, and it is nice to have someone to talk to. Other than that, workin' out, reading, workin' in the kitchen."
"They let you in the kitchen? I would have thought you'd be tempted to cut that off." I motioned to the electronic tracking device she was wearing.
"Na. I did think about it, but, ya know, I gave you and Wayne my word I'd co-operate, and this is part o' the deal. Besides, they showed us what would happen if we tried." Harley shuddered.
"Us?" I asked.
"Th' other newbies like me. It's not uncomfortable, the shower don' bother it, and I forget I'm wearin' it. 'S like wearin' a guy's watch." She smiled, and said, "Don't let me forget to give you a couple a' letters, if you don't mind." I shook my head, and she added, "One's to Pammie and the other's to Oswald for the Iceberg crowd. Oh, and one's to Wayne, he asked me a couple 'a questions when he was up here to visit." She winked at me, then asked, "So, when's he gonna ask ya?"
I blinked. "Ask me? Ask me what?"
She waggled her left hand at me, then said, "You know! When you two gonna tie the knot? Get hitched?" I blinked again, and she snorted. "When you two getting MARRIED? Mrs. Wayne?"
"I … I don't know."
"Well, I hope it's before the baby's due! Ya know what it is, yet?" I shook my head. She snorted, and said, "I wanna be there for the weddin'. Think Sheila the lawyer can swing that?"
"I … I don't know. I'll ask her."
"Kay." Harley had unfolded the local section, and said, "Hey, this Batgirl chick been kickin' some butt. I kinda miss the excitement, ya know? What about you? Now that you've been benched, you miss it?"
"Yes, I do. I don't miss the bruises, though." I sighed, and asked, "What do you miss?"
"Don' miss those either." Harley giggled, and added, "Bats didn't hold back 'cause I'm a girl. He belt's ya so hard ya hear the little birdies sing." She sighed, and added, "The excitement, that's what I miss. Pullin' off a great job, and then the cat an' mouse wit' da Bat." She saw my look, giggled, and said, "Sorry."
"It's all right. So, what kind of courses?" I asked.
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A couple of cops came in the office. This wasn't unusual, they were usually there for depositions and such. I checked my calendar for Monday, May 31, and none of the lawyers had notified us they were expected. I looked up at them, and asked, "What can I do for you?"
"We're here to see Mrs. Harris. Please don't call her."
"All right. Why is that?"
"Buzz us in, please." I shrugged, and touched the switch. I asked, "Do you know where … "
"We know where her office is. Thank you."
***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***
They left a few minutes later, with Mrs. Harris between them, in handcuffs. I thought for a minute as to why, and then remembered the payroll scam that had been going on. I had passed on updated information to Tee's security troops through regular emails to Stephanie in IT, but had not worried that much about it. Now, after several months, it had apparently come to a head.
Helen was sufficiently shocked that she stood up, and with that, I felt a tearing sensation, and then I was wet. I looked down, and Helen said, "Oh, my god, your water broke!"
"I … don't feel so good," I said.
"Let me call Medical," Helen said. I put my head back, and she added, "You're early. We'll have to cancel the shower, now."
"Uh, shower? Sorry about the mess," I mumbled.
"The baby shower, you dummy! Oh, yes, this is Helen at the front desk. Selina's water just broke, and she's kinda dizzy. Um. Okay. Okay. Thanks. Bye." She hung up, and said, "Medical's calling the paramedics. Someone will be down in a minute. They'll take you to General. You got anyone you want me to call?"
"Index card in the front of my purse." I shivered, and Helen grabbed my purse from the drawer, and draped a sweater over me. "Thanks."
"No problem." She dialed the first one, and said, "Mr. Wayne, please. This is about Selina Kyle."
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## Chapter 33: Of Beginnings and Endings