Sorry about not updating guys ADHD is a bitch and she had me by the throat. Hopefully this chapter makes up for it and the next one won't take half a year to come out.
Poison
Chapter Eight
"Are you sure you want to leave, dear. You can always stay another day." Amanda asked her granddaughter. The two were outside the hospital, waiting for Eamon and Odelia to come and pick the duo up.
"It's just my arm." Harleen said again for the upteenth time. Though she had to leave the hospital in a wheelchair, Harleen was in good spirits.
She was finally going home. She was going to sleep in her own0. bed. Her siblings were going to try and keep the peace. And her grandmother was Zzgoing to make them dinner for the first time in a long while.
Harleen felt so happy. For a long few minutes she felt on cloud nine. Then she saw him.
When Eamon pulled up he quickly helped his older sister out of the wheelchair and into his car. Scooting in, Harleen had turned to watch her grandmother step inside when she noticed the man that had been sitting not too far from them.
Edward Nygma smiled as he realized Harleen had noticed him. He waved at her excitedly as her grandmother stepped into the car and settled in.
She wasn't fine. She wasn't fine. She wasn't fine damnit!
She clenched her hands into fists. "Harley?" Her brother asked. "Are you okay?" He was sitting in the driver's seat now, looking at her in the mirror with a worried look on his face.
Harleen looked away from Edward to reassure her brother. "I'm fine." She smiled at Eamon who gave her a calculating look. He let it go anyway, starting his car back up to head back to her apartment.
Harleen looked back at Edward who hadn't moved. How long had he been sitting there? The whole time she was out there with her grandmother? Had he been the one to bring the Joker to her?
She thought she wouldn't see him until she met with Oswald again. Why was he here?
Harleen continued to watch him as Eamon drove off and only looked away when she couldn't see him anymore. A thought struck her. Who else had been watching her? The Joker had proven he had men everywhere in Arkham. Who said he couldn't have men in other places too?
And Oswald. He was obviously rich and powerful. He could place people wherever he wanted probably. He did place the mold in Arkham.
But why was Nygma there? What did he want? If he was just watching her he wouldn't have made it so obvious. Was it a play? No matter where you go I'll be watching you.
She already had to deal with the Joker, she didn't need Oswald and his partner following her around either. She'd already agreed to breaking Crane out, agreed to risk her life just to get them to leave her alone. Why wouldn't they just leave her alone?
Harleen felt her body start to shake and her eyes well up. She closed them, hugging her arms around her body as she did.
"Are you cold dear?" Amanda asked beside her.
"Yes." Harleen said. Eamon quickly turned the heater on. Harleen appreciated him more than she probably knew. Maybe…maybe..
No. She couldn't tell him. She couldn't tell anyone. But especially not Eamon.
"Harley, are you excited to see Gabriel?" Amanda asked.
Gabriel? Oh, Gabriel, the cat. The one she still wasn't too sure whose idea it was to give to her. He'd warmed up to Harleen, especially when she took the time to buy him wet food for that he seemed to immediately enjoy.
He was a total snuggle bug and Harleen loved lying close to him when she fell asleep. She had bought a cat tree before she had been kidnapped. But she hadn't been able to put it up before. Maybe Eamon could help her with that.
"Wait, I never told you about him." Harleen observed. Had they been to her house? Had the police been to her house? Oh no, they couldn't know he was there.
Amanda smiled. "Oh, don't worry dear. Selena had been taking care of him, she told us about him." Thank god. Selena was always reliable and Harleen was not deserving of that friendship.
"How come you never told grandma about him?" Odelia asked. Harleen could almost see the snark on her face when she said it.
Harleen shrugged. "I guess I forgot."
Amanda jumped in before Odelia could somehow start an argument. "Well, he's very cute. A very aloof fella. But very cute."
Harleen agreed and was grateful at her grandmother's perception. Eamon was surprisingly quiet during this. Usually if Odelia made a comment like that he was just as quick to jump in.
But Eamon was quiet throughout the whole ride, only speaking when spoken too. Harleen hoped it was just the shock from his sister being kidnapped catching up to him. But that didn't make her any less worried.
Eventually they made it to Harleen's apartment safely. Her body was still buzzing over the sight of Edward so Harleen almost didn't notice her brother opening the door for her.
"You need help?" He asked, looking at Harleen worriedly.
"I'm fine." Eamon took Harleen's hand anyway though and she let him. Stepping out she looked around her neighborhood, noting that nothing had changed since the last time she saw it.
Harleen could see the diner not far from where she was standing. She thought about how much convincing it would take before Eamon would let her go down there for a meal. She just knew he would be against the idea of leaving her apartment. But Harleen would go stir crazy if she was stuck inside her apartment for two weeks.
"Doesn't your job pay you better?" Odelia asked. Harleen looked towards her, slightly irritated at the comment.
"I mean this place…I just don't trust it." She held their grandmother's arm as Eamon led Harleen up to her apartment.
'No where in Gotham is safe.' Harleen wanted to say. But making Amanda and Eamon more worried was not on her to-do list. So she stayed quiet.
Something comforting passed through Harleen as she walked into her apartment. She hated this place, but somehow being back made her realize she missed it.
"Your cats' in the bedroom." Odelia commented as she passed Harleen. "He hates the three of us."
"Oh, now that's not true." Amanda reassured.
"Right. He just hates Odelia." Odelia glared at Eamon but otherwise didn't take the bait.
And Harleen was not going to be there when she eventually did. "I'm going to take a nap." She announced before turning to Eamon.
"Oh, can you hand me the house phone?" Before Eamon could answer, their grandmother grabbed a handbag and handed it to Harleen.
"Here you are dear."
It was the one she had at the party. She had dropped it and hadn't really thought she'd be able to get it back. "You have my purse?" Harleen asked.
"They found it on the ballroom floor." Amanda answered. Harleen opened it to see her phone, her ID and keys still inside. Maybe she shouldn't have been so surprised, most of the people at that party were rich. But none of Joker's men touched it?
"Don't worry, I parked your car in a lot around the corner." Eamon tried to assure her. 'Try' being the key word there. Harleen knew for a fact that that lot had a theft problem.
"Thanks." She said anyway.
Harleen walked into her bedroom to get some privacy while she called her friend. Gabriel looked up at her and meowed, rubbing against her hand that she offered it up to him. Dialing the number Harleen waited as the phone rang, rang and rang. She tried again. She knew Selena got off work an hour ago. Unless her phone was dead, she always picked up Harleen's calls.
But after three tries, Harleen gave up and left her friend a voicemail instead. "Hey Selena, I'm alive and safe. Haven't heard anything from you so don't make me worried. Call me back when you get this. Love you." Harleen hung up, setting the phone on her nightstand.
She sat on her bed and preened when Gabriel immediately jumped on her lap. She scratched him for a moment, enjoying his soft fur on her fingers before laying back on her bed.
She was so tired. Harleen was more than ready to just sleep these next two weeks away.
Ah, she had forgotten to ask how long the three of them would be staying. Knowing her grandmother she probably would stay the two months needed to heal. Odelia would want to leave as soon as possible. Now that Harleen's safe she can go back home. Eamon…
Someone softly knocked at her door. "Harley?" Eamon called out.
Harleen sat up making Gabriel hop down onto the floor. "Yeah?"
"Can we talk?"
Oh. That didn't sound good. "Of course. Come in."
Eamon opened the door, walking in and quickly closing the door. Gabriel got nervous and hid under her bed to get away from the unfamiliar figure.
Eamon didn't look at him however. He walked over to Harleen's bed and sat at the edge. "What's wrong?" She asked when he didn't say anything
"I didn't want to talk about this in front of them." He started. Harleen waited for her brother to gather his thoughts. It seemed like something was really eating at him for him to be this nervous. "When the cops visited us, when we had first got to Gotham, one of the detectives had asked us some questions."
He turned then to look at Harleen. "You remember when the Joker broke out of Arkham?"
Of course, how could she ever forget that. She nodded in response "One of them had asked me about how I felt about what happened then and what's going on now." He looked away for a moment, staring at the window. "I couldn't really understand what he was trying to ask so when I requested he elaborate further…"
He looked back at Harleen in anger. "Why didn't you say anything?"
It didn't take a genius to know what he was talking about. Why hadn't she talked about being taken hostage.
Harleen didn't really have an answer that would satisfy him though. Whatever she said would just go through him. He'd tell her reason was dumb and Harleen should have said something.
"I wasn't hurt." She dumbly decided on. Great, one of the worst reasons she could have given.
"Wasn't hurt? He kidnapped you!" Eamon flinched at the volume of his voice. He didn't want their grandmother or sister hearing the conversation.
"I was only taken hostage." Eamon gave her a wide eyed look.
"And then he kidnapped you!"
Eamon stood up then. He started pacing and rubbed his hands against his face. "Look, I know you don't like when I worry. But I just can't stand by while you-"
"While what Eamon?"
"-you act like everything's fine when you know it's not!" He whispered-yelled. His eyes were blazing with rage and Harleen was worried he would combust. "God! You've always been like this. Ever since mom died you just keep everything to yourself."
Harleen's voice dropped in her throat. He didn't have to say that. He shouldn't have said that. It wasn't true. It wasn't her fault their father was a piece of shit that…
"It's not like that." She finally replied softly.
"Then tell me why you didn't say anything."
Harleen shook her head. She wasn't going to explain herself to him. She had gotten out of the situation alive. Who had told him about it anyway?
"Who was the detective you talked to?" She asked. Eamon gave a glare. He wanted her to answer his question but Harleen wasn't willing to. "Please." She finally begged.
He sighed. "It was Detective Sullivan." Harleen had a crazy sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Why was it him? Why was it always him?
"Look, I-I have some more worries." Eamon added. He looked around Harleen's room before fixing his gaze back on her. He looked a lot more worried now. "That detective…does he think you're the Joker's accomplice?"
"What did he say to you?" Harleen immediately asked.
Eamon shrugged. "Wasn't anything he said just how he said it. That ones not really subtle."
Harleen deflated. She was innocent! Well…she was innocent then. But Sullivan had nothing on her except that the Joker had an interest in her. That wasn't anything to make a theory as outrageous as he was making.
If Harleen played her cards right with the officers, she could just make the detective look like an idiot. "Eamon, I'm sorry. I should have told you guys, I know. But I want you to know I would never work with the Joker."
Eamon looked so conflicted. Like he wanted to believe Harleen so badly, but whatever Sullivan had told him must have been very effective.
Eamon sat back at her bed. Harleen let him take his time before he spoke again. "Why did he let you go?"
Harleen was only just able to suppress saying, 'Oh my god Eamon, let it go!', like when they were teenagers. "I know how to get into his head."
"So…what?" Eamon furrowed his brows. "You just talked your way out?"
Harleen shrugged. "Basically." Please let it go, please just let it go. Eamon could be stubborn but even he had to know he wouldn't be getting anything more out of Harleen. He wasn't trained in interrogation yet.
Luckily Eamon didn't press further. Instead he stood up and started to head towards the door. "Odelia wants to go back to the hotel. Grandma's going with her but I'll be right back. Ok?"
Harleen nodded. "Alright." Eamon slipped out her room finally letting Harleen breathe a sigh of relief.
The next two weeks were a true test of Harleen's mental capabilities. Odelia stayed for another two days before she eventually returned home. Harleen didn't blame her, she wouldn't be caught giving birth in Gotham either.
Though her sister's constant comments about her home were valid, Harleen still didn't want to hear it. She knew what she was getting into when she moved to Gotham. But hearing Odelia talk about it almost constantly was frustrating.
Commissioner Gordon came by the day after Harleen came home from the hospital. With thankfully no Detective Sullivan in sight.
He asked the standard questions, 'Did you see anything? Did you hear anything? Do you remember where they took you? Did you see their faces?' Harleen lied her way through it all. Almost patting herself on the back when the man left with less clarity then he came in with.
It made her nervous though when Eamon hung off her every word. Most likely trying to see if his sister tripped up and said something that didn't add up. Harleen loved Eamon, she really did. But his constant worrying about her was really starting to grind her gears.
God if she ever met Sullivan again…
But there were worse things. Selena never called her back. When three days passed, Harleen called Gordon and asked him to check on her. Gordon tried to reassure Harleen, saying her friend was a grown woman and could just be busy. But even he could tell this was weird. Selena's best friend had been rescued and she hadn't come to see Harleen once.
Eamon had gone with Gordan since Harleen couldn't. He'd confirm that the only problem they could find was a colony of cats that had got inside through an open window. Besides that, it was totally quiet. Gordan had then gone to Selena's job, but all they said was that she never came back from a scheduled lunch.
They stated it wasn't unusual for a corporate receptionist to quit in the middle of a shift and never return. But Harleen knew Selena. She hated that job, but she'd never quit. She always said they would have to fire her to get her out of there.
After two weeks, Amanda had to go. Not that their grandmother didn't have to stay, but Eamon didn't want her to stay longer without him. And since thanksgiving was fast approaching, the siblings wanted her to be at home with Odelia and her children.
Almost immediately after her grandmother walked out the door Harleen realized something that she had completely forgotten. She had to go see Oswald again. Her two weeks were up and she wasn't sure if he would be willing to meet at a later date. The biggest problem was, of course, that there was no way Eamon would just let Harleen leave the house by herself.
She could take him with her. No matter how much she hated the idea of him being near whatever bullshit she had gotten herself into. He wasn't just going to let her leave the apartment without knowing where she was going and who she was going with.
It was risky. But she could do it.
Ok Harleen. It's just Eamon. Eamon is not your father, you don't have to be so nervous. Just say it. Just look at him and say it. Just say it!
"Eamon. I need to go somewhere today." Eamon looked up from his spot on the couch at Harleen. He froze at the sight of his sister dressed up. The splint being the only thing out of place on her. "Will you drive me over?"
Eamon didn't say anything at first, still too stunned at the sight of her. However when he realized what she said he quickly snapped out of it.
"Where are you going?" He asked standing up. Eamon hadn't seen his sister wear a dress this nice in…ever. She had even taken her hair down and combed it out. Harleen had looked like shit for the last two weeks. Where the hell was she going? Who was she dressing up for?
Harleen felt her heart race. Don't let him know. "Carolina Arkham, you know, my boss's daughter? I had planned to meet her at a restaurant a few weeks back and, you know, then I got…" Harleen gestured to her splint with a dejected look on her face.
Be sympathetic. Don't show it's a lie. Carolina is still probably in the hospital watching over her father. But Eamon won't know that. "Anyways, she was able to reschedule and wanted me to meet her at this restaurant. So can you take me?"
Eamon was conflicted. He didn't want Harleen to leave the apartment. Who knew what would happen this time if she ran off somewhere. But Eamon knew from talking to Carolina on the phone not long after Harleen was kidnapped that Carolina Arkham was very important and Eamon didn't want Harleen's job to be at risk if she didn't go.
He hated it, but he seemed to have no choice. "Would I be able to join you?"
Fuck. He did not just ask that. Think. Think. Think. "Do you have a suit?" She asked, looking Eamon up and down. Eamon frowned. He didn't.
"Is that important?"
"It's the dress code."
She was wearing a nice dress of course it was dress code. Eamon felt dumb but his mind was racing a mile a minute. Couldn't Carolina just postpone? Was she really that busy? Couldn't she wait until Harleen was able to go back to work?
"I just need you to drive me over." Harleen cut in. She could see her brother thinking way too hard about this. She needed to go and she needed to go now. "It shouldn't be long, maybe an hour or two. You can wait outside in the car if you're worried."
Eamon groaned, seemingly feeling defeated. Harleen felt the relief flush over her. Perfect. She'd gotten him to agree.
Eamon drove Harleen's car up to the Iceberg Lounge and he looked at it with a disdain that could crush rocks. He didn't want her to be here. As soon as Harleen unbuckled her belt, Eamon grabbed onto her uninjured shoulder.
"As soon as you finish eating, come out. I don't want you out for so long."
Harleen felt a bit miffed about that. She was the older sibling; it wasn't Eamon's job to be so worried about her. But she also knew not to fight him. She didn't have the time nor patience to tell him to just go home and wait for her. That would just start an argument and a line of questioning she wasn't ready for. So she just gave him an affirmative remark before walking out the car.
Harleen didn't look back. Instead focusing on the front door of the establishment. She rubbed her splint feeling a little stupid since she had to wear it. This place was so classy and she was forced to show up with her arm bandaged.
The doorman must have been thinking the same thing because he looked at Harleen warily before letting her in. She was still mostly dressed like she belonged but the splint was just a little eye-catching.
Walking in, Harleen was greeted with a stunning waiting area. You couldn't see inside the restaurant, but it didn't matter. The place was gorgeous and if this had been any other circumstance, Harleen would have been amazed.
A hostess stood at the very center. She smiled when she noticed Harleen but eyed her splint in the same wary way. "Welcome to the Iceberg Lounge. May I have your name?" Harleen hadn't felt so much anxiety walking into a restaurant.
"Quinzel. I'm here to see the Penguin." God that sounded so stupid. What kinda nickname was that?
The hostess however didn't seem to think so. Her face went a little pale making Harleen worried. Was something wrong? "I see." She turned away from her post and picked up a phone next to her. Harleen heard the door behind her open, another group of people were coming in. Harleen grabbed her arm so the splint was out of their line of sight. Suddenly she didn't want anyone to recognize a woman with a splint coming into the Iceberg Lounge.
The hostess said a few words into the phone before setting it back down. One of the two double doors leading inside opened and a waiter came out, quickly moving towards the host stand.
"If you would please follow me." He said to Harleen. He didn't look at the splint but that didn't mean he didn't notice it. Harleen followed after him, the faster she got inside the faster she'd get out.
The Iceberg Lounge was as beautiful as Harleen believed it to be. The iceberg stage had a group of people playing a beautiful jazz tune. The moat had become a flowing fountain and she heard the water trickling through the music. It was still cold, maybe colder than it had been before. Harleen noticed many women with some type of coat or long sleeved dresses. She rubbed at her forearm, hoping that this meeting wouldn't take long.
The waiter led Harleen up a set of stairs that brought them to the second floor. This section was a lot more secluded. The booths were taller so no one could see anyone in front of them. The waiter brought Harleen over to a booth near the balcony where she had an almost perfect view of the band playing.
"Would you like to start with a drink, ma'am?" The waiter asked. Harleen wanted a drink, badly. But she wasn't about to go into this with a clouded head.
"Water will be fine." The waiter nodded before walking off.
Harleen leaned back, letting the atmosphere fill her senses. In reality, this was a nice place. If this was under different circumstances. Harleen would have really liked to come here one day. Though the things on the menu were most likely out of her price range. The asylum didn't pay the best.
That was when she realized something strange. The waiter hadn't given her a menu. It made her pause but, what did it really matter? She wasn't here to eat. She was here for business. Horrible, dirty business.
It was at that moment that her mind started to drift towards Selina. What if her poor friend was dead? God Harleen wasn't trying to think about that. She had been hoping this whole time Selina really did just get tired of Gotham and had left. Left with a word to anyone, not ever Harleen. Left while she still had a decent life. Left while Harleen was in a kidnapping situation. Left while her best friend's life was on the line…
Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry.
"Doctor Quinzel!" Harleen sat up at the sound of Oswald's voice. He limped towards her on his umbrella with an overeager look on his face.
Harleen stood up, accepting the brief hug Oswald gave her. "I apologize for coming to you so late, I wasn't able to get away from my family."
"Oh, it's no problem. You came and that's all that matters." He gestured for Harleen to sit back down which is when the waiter returned with drinks for the both of them. Water for Harleen and champagne for Oswald.
"How are you?"
Harleen took a sip of the water. Somehow even that tasted expensive. "Better." She finally said. Oswald's smile was making Harleen nervous. He seemed nice, almost harmless. Almost. This was the same man that funded the Joker's escape.
"I saw your family on the news, have they been taking care of you?" It said it so smoothly, like he just hadn't said something that made Harleen's stomach turn.
She took another sip of water. "They were. They've all gone back home now." All but Eamon. But maybe Oswald already knew that. Harleen couldn't really forget Edward watching her from the hospital. No telling what else he had seen from watching her from afar.
"So soon?" Oswald looked genuinely surprised. "They didn't want to stay any longer?"
"My family have their own lives. I'm alright physically.." Harleen touched her arm but just as quickly moved it when Oswald's eyes looked at her splint. He didn't comment on it. Harlen continued to speak, "Mostly. I told them to go home. I'll be fine."
Oswald opened his mouth to reply but all he did was give a huff in lieu of a laugh. "You're stronger than I believed you to be."
Harleen blushed. It was a nice complement. But it wasn't true.
All she wanted was for her family to get out of Gotham. The sooner they were gone, the sooner this nightmare of hers would end.
"Well, I can guess if you're dealing with the Joker you have to be mentally determined." He took a drink of his champagne at that. Yeah, Harleen could drink to that too. "Speaking of the Joker, have you spoken to him?"
Harleen squeezed her eyes closed. God that was the only shining light in all this. She hadn't heard from him at all. "No." She looked back at Oswald. His smile turned into a frown and then into a puzzled look. Like he couldn't believe the Joker would somehow be able to leave Harleen alone.
"I'm surprised. He seemed…" He trailed off. Trying to gather his thoughts while Harleen was trying to come up with ways to steer the conversation away from her former patient. "…to have a very close eye on you." He finally concluded.
But that left Harleen stumped. What did he mean by that? Sure the Joker focuses on her, but he had just risked her life not too long ago. He had Tobias hurt her damnit! "I don't know what that means."
"Good." He winked. "Trust me, I know him. Not a very nice man."
He shouldn't have said that.
He really shouldn't have said that.
Harleen had been the Joker's doctor for four months. Four months. Months of Harllen being harassed by everyone about her progress. Months of her breaking down his walls to try to get anything from him. She knew so much about how he thought. Yeah, now that he was out her mind would blank when talking to him. But she knew him.
Oswald didn't know anything.
She must have been making a face because Oswald looked more and more worried as the seconds ticked by. Harleen sighed, taking a sip of water wishing she had gone with an alcoholic drink. She hadn't realized how taxing this conversation was going to be.
"He seems to trust you. Is it fair to say you trust him as well?" Harleen suddenly asked. God what was she, jealous? Who knows what the Joker's life was like before he came to Arkham. Oswald could be his best friend and what would it matter to her?
So why was she so mad?
But he only scoffed. His eyes flashed and Harleen got the feeling she touched a nerve. "I don't trust the Joker as far as I can throw him. The only reason I got him to break Crane out is because he's the only person who would do it."
"He was?"
Oswald was silent. He downed the rest of his drink, setting it back down with an irritated tap. Harleen waited patiently, if she gave him his space he would open up. They always opened up.
"People don't like Crane, you see. But I needed him and I was desperate." Oswald had an almost wild look in his eyes. Harleen waited for him again but it seemed like that was all Oswald was going to say about the situation. It was time to change gears.
Harllen shifted and sat up straighter. "Someone told me that some of the men working for the Joker are supposed to be working for Crane." Well it was just one person but he didn't need to know that.
"The snake. He did it on purpose." He looked down at his glass. Seemingly disappointed at himself for drinking it all so quickly.
"Those men were guaranteed jobs. If they weren't given work when I promised them, they'd kill me." He seemed to realize his mistake, looking away from Harleen sheepishly. "Not that they'd be able to, of course!"
Oh yeah, she totally believed him. She suddenly started to think about how Oswald got his limp.
"But he's an idiot. All of the men promised to Crane will go straight to him when he gets out."
The waiter came back and poured Oswald a new glass. While they were busy Harleen's brain was racing a mile a minute.
"What if they don't want to go?" Oswald turned to Harleen. He was stunned at her reply waiting for her to continue. But that was all Harleen had to say. She wasn't really thinking things through and had just said the first thing that sounded good.
"That's not the agreement."
Harleen almost flinched. She hadn't meant to make him so angry. "I don't mean to upset you but, I've talked to some of those guys." Well, one guy. One very sad guy.
"You have?"
Harleen nodded. "A lot of them are already loyal to the Joker. I don't think they'll be very willing to leave him for Crane."
"If they want to get paid they will." He laughed again, taking a sip of his drink.
"What if the Joker can pay them?" Harleen countered.
"And where would he be getting the money?" Oswald raised his voice. He looked around before realizing that the seating made it so that no one noticed it was him. "He came to me because he needed men and money. I gave that to him. All I ask is that he breaks out Crane."
"And if he does? That's not a guarantee those men will leave him for Crane. And the Joker has gotten money in other places before. The only reason he agreed to your plan was because the city had taken the money. Remember you came to him not the other way around."
Oh god. Harleen was defending the Joker. Had she died? Had she really fallen out the window? Been killed by the dynamite? Maybe the gun to her head had killed her and Harleen was living in some type of personal hell. Those were the only explanations for whatever she just said.
And Oswald looked shocked too. He was staring wide eyed at her, just as perplexed at her outburst as she was. But soon that look turned frustrated. Then mad. He didn't like what she said. "Look, I don't want to do this. Please understand that. But I know the Joker. I'm his doctor, remember?"
Oswald was definitely angry. He pushed his drink away, leaning back with hands crossed. "What do you suggest?"
What do you mean does she suggests? Harleen had been talking out her ass earlier. She didn't think the conversation would turn like this. Ok, ok. You're not an idiot Harleen…sorta.
And then it came to her. "Does Crane need men of his own?"
Oswald gave her a quizzical look. "He needs protection during his work. And when his work is finished he needs people to distribute it."
"That sounds like something you're men could do."
"My men?"
Harleen nodded. "They don't need to work for Crane directly. Joker has his men doing lots of stuff around the city but if Crane's men are only doing a few things—well, they don't necessarily have to work for him. Do they?"
Oswald still didn't look convinced. But he was thinking about it. Harleen pushed. "Those guys like Joker. He has them spreading themselves around the city. If they worked for Crane he'd probably confine them to one location. Those guys would hate that."
Oswald continued to sit and think for a moment. Harleen knew she had gotten to him just a little. But would it be enough for him to let the issue go?
"Why are you helping him?"
"What?" Harleen almost choked at the question.
Oswald smiled. "You seem very concerned about the Joker's operations."
Harleen paused. Well, she didn't have a reason. She knew Joker losing half his men would be bad for him and in turn, could possibly be bad for her.
But that wasn't reason enough. He would be mad, so what? That didn't mean he'd take it out on her, right?
But Harleen had to give some reason. Oswald was staring at her and getting more curious as she stayed silent. "I'm doing all this so you all will leave me alone. That's it."
It wasn't enough. Oswald didn't look convinced. He wouldn't give up on taking his men back if it ended like this. "Listen, I don't want to do this. But if I don't, the Joker will ruin my life. I won't let him do that to me. If breaking out Crane is all it takes for him to leave me alone. I'll do it." She began.
"But Joker needs those men. I can guarantee that if you let him keep those men, he'll do whatever you ask."
This was it. Harleen couldn't guarantee a damn thing. But Harleen had been his doctor and that was enough to know his motives if not just a little bit. That's what everyone believed at least and if that logic worked on Oswald. Then it was almost a done deal.
"Swordfish Steak." The waiter announced, setting a plate down in front of Harleen. She stared at the meal in amazement. When was the last time she had a meal that looked this good?
"Please enjoy." Oswald stated as he stood up. Harleen looked up at him, ready to stop him to continue the conversation. But Oswald held up a hand and smiled. "This was a more enlightening conversation than I thought it would be. Please Doctor, have a pleasant evening. Everything is on the house."
Then he was gone. Leaving a confused Harleen behind.
Three and a half weeks after the kidnapping, Harleen returned to Arkham. Of course the first person who wanted to speak to her was Carolina. Her father was alive, but as old as he is, it's only a matter of time before she takes over. That was bad news as far as anyone working there was concerned.
Walking towards her office, Harleen realized that the lights were already on inside. Was someone in her office? Harleen was not in the mood to talk to anyone this soon. But she also knew who exactly was most likely waiting for her and it was now or never.
Harleen opened her door to a waiting Carolina and Redfern inside. "Quinzel." Carolina said as she stood up. Harleen noted that she had been sitting at Harleen's desk. Thankfully her computer was password protected.
"I know what you're going to say." Harleen started. "But I feel fine enough to come back to work."
"We weren't going to deny you that." Redfern looked to Carolina for support who only gave him a blank stare back. He turned back to Harleen with a resigned look. "I was not going to deny you."
Carolina came from behind Harleen's desk to stand in front of her. "I admire your dedication, but you've been through a much more traumatizing situation than last time. Are you sure you should be coming back to work?"
Redfern came up, putting a hand on Carolina's arm to make her back off. "We could say the same thing for you, Carolina."
Carolina's eyes flashed. She looked as though Redfern had just slapped her. She jerked her arm away and glared at the man. "My father wants me to continue working."
Redfern backed away and surprisingly didn't look intimidated. "Then I think Dr. Quinzel is alright to work." He smiled at Harleen who only nodded at his words.
What the hell was this? Redfern would never stick up for Harleen like this. What was going on? Did they know something she didn't?
But Carolina sighed in response. Looking at Harleen with a calculating look. "I'm only going along with this because I trust Redfern's judgment." Harleen knew an 'ok' when she heard it. "Have a productive day." She said walking past Harleen.
"Ah! Wait!" Carolina stopped and turned to look at Harleen. Harleen suddenly felt like she had so much to say. So much she wanted to ask Carolina.
"The ransom money…" She finally started with. "Why?…"
Carolina looked puzzled at first but smiled after a moment. "It was my idea. It was an Arkham event you were kidnapped from. We weren't able to protect you so it's our job to make sure you were returned alive."
Harleen was…going through a wave of emotions. Carolina had ordered the ransom money. Not the asylum itself but Carolina. Why? Because it was her duty?
No, there had to be more. This could possibly look good for the asylum. But that wasn't something Carolina would do. She didn't care about stuff like that; she had people in positions whose jobs were worrying about that.
So why? Had she really cared about Harleen's safety and life? Did she really want to help Harleen? Hadn't she hounded Harleen just as hard as the other board members when the Joker originally escaped? What was going on?
Carolina turned and walked out the office. Harleen was left standing there in utter shock.
"Your patients have missed you." Redfern said after a beat. Harleen had completely forgotten he was even in the room. He was giving Harleen a comforting smile that made her feel a little bit better.
"Have they really?"
Redfern nodded. "Pamela especially. Been totally closed off since you've been gone."
Harleen was confused about who he was talking about for a moment. It had been so long since she'd seen Pamela that it was easy to forget about Carolina's special assignment for her.
Carolina was right. Pamela wasn't an easy patient. At least at first. Pamela didn't talk through the whole first session which was fine with Harleen. She'd worked with the Joker, anyone after that was a breeze. The second session was better.
Harleen had started with an introduction of herself. A little bit of her backstory, her time in Gotham and her job.
"You have a boyfriend?" Pamela had asked after a few minutes. Not what Harleen was hoping she would ask, but at least it was something.
"I do not."
Pamela looked at her with skepticism. "Girlfriend?"
"Nope."
"So what's the problem?" She said leaning closer. Harleen almost laughed. She had been asked this same question by so many people for years it was almost comforting that Pamela could ask something so normal.
"I don't have time for myself. Let alone the time to maintain a relationship."
"Is that an excuse?" Ouch. Way to hit at the core. But Harleen couldn't help but smile. Then she laughed and then she heard Pamela laugh along.
"I wish."
"Very similar to the Joker." Redfern said. Harleen flinched at the thought.
"Can you not go there." Because it wasn't the fucking same.
"I'm not being mean here, Quinzel. I'm just stating an observation." An observation that Harleen despised. "It seems you have a way with these people. I'm not sure what it is, but they seem to really like you."
She did not have a way with people. She just talked to them. Opened herself up to them to make them open up to her. But many of the other doctors didn't do that. They treated their sessions like an interrogation and it made the patients unresponsive. Harleen wished they would just understand that. But it was hard to change the mind of old dogs.
"Keep up the good work." He said before walking out the door as well.
Did Harleen die that night she was kidnapped and she hadn't realized it? Those were some of the nicest words Redfern had said to her since she started working at Arkham. Something was definitely wrong.
Another problem to add to her ever growing list of headaches.
So Harleen was quick to throw herself back into work. She checked and replied to emails for what felt like hours before going to see her patients at their rooms. Checking on everyone and reassuring them their schedules would go back to normal.
It was nice to see her patients. Now that she had Pamela, Harleen had six patients again. If the Joker hadn't left she would be juggling seven. She almost got a migraine at just the thought of having to deal with either of them on the same day.
Pamela was happy to see Harleen. She didn't show it on her face but Harleen could see it in her eyes. The way they lit up when her door opened and Harleen stepped through.
"Heard you died." Was the first thing Pamela said. "Killed by the Joker."
Where did she hear that? Harleen side-eyed the guard next to her, wondering if he was one of the Joker's men. She really should've memorized the list of faces he had shown her.
"Can't kill me that easily." She smiled. Pamela smiled back.
"Good. Don't deserve to get killed by a creep like that." Won't hear a disagreement from Harleen. "You'll still be my doctor?"
"Of course. That's why I'm here. Our next appointment will be on Friday." Pamela nodded looking out her window. Pamela said she really wanted a room with a window but Harleen knew she would be transferred to C-Wing soon, where only the ground floor had windows. She would have to talk to someone about putting Pamela in one of those rooms.
"You're real dedicated." Pamela finally said. "I don't know if I would come back if I went through what you did."
"Well, I-"
"Men like the Joker," She continued. "They're the ones that deserve to die."
Harleen deflated a little. Pamela had a real dislike for men. Had something to do with Pamela's old research partner. A story Harleen still hadn't been able to get out of her patient. "No one deserves to die, Pamela."
"Really?" She said, turning to look back at Harleen.
"Really."
Pamela stared at Harleen but eventually a smile did return. She looked out the window again. "Can't find it in myself to agree. But I guess that's what your job is."
Harleen wasn't going to get anything out of her anymore. Harleen said her goodbye and left Pamela alone again. Pamela continued to stare out her window. At the nature that surrounded Arkham. It seemed just as dead as the asylum itself, but it still tried. And Pamela? She would try too.
Hours later Harleen would find herself inside her office. She was reading her case files but it was all starting to blur together for her. She leaned back and closed her eyes.
It was time. You can't keep avoiding it.
Harleen pulled something out of her jacket pocket. It was a note she had written to herself some time ago, copied from a napkin someone had given her. It had seven numbers on it that she had been given. Seven numbers that would change everything.
Harleen pulled out her phone ready to dial when she paused. Harleen wasn't as paranoid as she liked to think she was, but she couldn't help her intrusive thoughts. Carolina was observant. Carolina had been in my office. Carolina could have bugs everywhere.
It wasn't a good idea to call.
We need to talk
She didn't use her name so hopefully he would know it was her. But Garfield didn't reply for a long while. So Harleen went back to her work. The rest of her shift passed by in the same blur. Between everything that had happened these past few months, her work seemed almost like a haven of normalcy. Even if it was exhausting and frustrating.
Walking downstairs to the lobby of the building had Harleen seeing the new receptionist at the desk. Harleen breathed deeply, trying to get gruesome imagery out her mind.
"Leaving now Dr. Quinzel?" The man asked her.
"Yes. It's been a long day." She replied. She pulled the clipboard he sat down closer, signing out with the time and date. A new system the board members had installed though if it would do any good was still to be seen.
The young man smiled as she pushed it back towards him. "You have a pleasant evening doctor."
Harleen smiled in reply before turning away. Two guards stood by the doors. One inside the building and one standing guard outside. Another attempt to bring in a new system. The one inside tipped his head at Harleen and she wondered for a cold brief moment if he was one of Joker's men.
Walking outside into the fresh cold air was exactly what Harleen needed. She would have to sign out again at the main building lobby, and would have to fake a smile again. But in this moment she felt a sense of relief.
Something buzzed in her pocket and took her a moment to realize it was her phone. Harleen pulled it out, expecting it to be another message from her family asking about how she was.
already at your apartment