A/N: So here we go, a new chapter! It's a bit short but unfortunately life has gotten a little hectic. However I'm doing the best I can in the meantime! This chapter is pretty angsty and full of feels so be prepared! Also, reviews help keep the creative juices flowing! ;p


"So Ms. Durnin, you had quite the night didn't you?"

I shifted in my seat under Amanda Waller's strict gaze and tried to ignore the way my dress was sticking to my skin with nervous sweat.

"In all due respect ma'am, I think she handled herself as best she could despite lack of training." I glanced over in surprise at Rick who was sitting on my left, as he spoke up in my defence.

"I don't doubt that Colonel," Waller said calmly. "In fact I agree. We now know where to find them, and quite honestly I didn't expect the Joker to be as bold as to go back to that place."

"Stupid is a better term," my brother muttered. I looked between him and Waller confused.

"Why is that stupid?"

"The Joker owns that club," Waller said while leaning back in her chair. "With Harley freshly out of her confinement thanks to him I thought he would know better than to flaunt it."

"That's just the mindset," Rick cut in. "They do things their own way."

"Well it's only going to get them caught," Waller replied confidently. She paused for a moment to eye me up and down.

"How are you getting along with the team?"

I took a deep breath. "Not to be disrespectful but I have a good feeling you already know the answer to that." I could feel my brother staring at me out of the corner of my eye and I clutched my hands tighter in my lap.

Amanda Waller just smiled slyly at me in return. "You would be right about that Ms. Durnin and I am glad to see the progress you've made. But I advise you not to get too close, these people are criminals after all."

My body went rigid with anger and I couldn't hold it in any longer. "What's the point?" I burst out. "Who cares if they like me or not? Why not just force them to do what you want, I know you would! I mean they all have neck bombs for Christ's sake!"

Rick had grabbed my arm during my rant but the Wall sat still, smile very much in place on her smug face.

"I could," she began. "But where's the fun in that? They aren't any good to me with all their heads blown off now are they? Would be such a waste, especially that Captain Boomerang. I doubt you'd enjoy seeing his pretty head popped off, am I right?"

I was visibly shaking at this point and Rick was out of his seat in a flash to hold me back from bitch slapping that woman to next Sunday. She only smiled wider at my reaction.

"That's what I thought. You did well Ms. Durnin, keep it up. Now I suggest you get yourself a good nights sleep. This was only the beginning. Both of you are excused."

Rick didn't waste any time in ushering me out the door of her office and as soon as we were halfway down the hall I all but collapsed in my brothers arms.

"How could she?!" I asked, tears starting to leak out despite my best efforts. "That...that evil conniving daughter of a bastard!"

I could feel Rick patting my back as he held me against his chest and he kept whispering something into my hair but I was too caught up in my anger to catch any of the words.

"Bitch," I sobbed, letting the tears flow freely now.

"It's the stress," I finally heard Rick say. "What you did tonight wasn't easy, you're emotional and it's understandable."

"And that woman is a cunt," I seethed as I pulled out my brothers arms.

He shrugged. "Well, that too. Honestly nothing really surprises me anymore at this point."

"How do you do this?" I asked as I wiped the tears away, my face probably streaked with eye makeup. "I used to think you were a total jerk who had this fancy job where everybody kissed your ass but the reality is you have to kiss hers."

"Don't remind me," Rick sighed as he took my arm and we resumed our walk. "At least now you get it."

"I'm sorry I was such a pain," I offered with a sniff. Rick started to laugh and I glared up at him.

"Sorry," he said mid chuckle. "I just never thought I'd hear that. You must be more emotional than I thought."

"Fuck you, I take it back then," I snapped, pulling out of his grip and crossing my arms over my chest. He smiled down at me amused and I couldn't help but grin a little in return.

Within a couple minutes we were back to what had been designated as the main living area and I nearly froze at what I saw. The majority of the team was seated around a table having a couple drinks, and I noticed June look up and smile at our entrance, getting up to greet us, but there was only one thing I could focus on. Off to the right of the group, Katana was reclining in a loveseat, still dressed in her club wear, and leaning over her looking all too flirtatious was none other than Captain Boomerang. His hand slowly reached out and tapped her thigh and my vision automatically went red, and my body felt like it was slowly catching on fire, heat radiating straight into my heart and burning away at it. Without a second thought I stomped right by June ignoring her completely and the Captain looked up just in time for me to land a brilliantly placed punch right in his stupid Aussie face. His head snapped backwards with the force of it and as I drew my fist back I felt firm hands around my waist pulling me away.

"Hey hey, calm down honey!" Deadshot was shouting in my ear but I was hardly paying attention. The Captain had the audacity to look hurt while cradling his nose but Katana, that bitch was smiling at me.

"What the fuck are you smiling at?!" I cursed while trying to escape from Deadshot's hold on me, which was basically impossible.

Katana stood up and gave the Captain a disgusted look before she turned back to me. "I'm smiling because you did exactly what I was about to do. I'm disappointed you beat me to it but I almost have a little bit of respect for you now." With that, the Japanese woman simply walked away without another word and I stood there appalled. My glare switched to Digger, who was crouched in his seat, blood trickling out of his nose. I let out a sigh and looked up at Killer Croc and Diablo who were both staring at me with expressions of surprise. Diablo met my eyes and shook his head. "Told homie he was gonna get hit." Killer Croc chuckled in response and for once in his life the Aussie had nothing to say back in his defence.

"Are you alright now girl?" I nodded and finally felt Deadshot release me. "Nice hit by the way."

I ignored him and focused my attention on the Captain who was wiping his nose with his sleeve. He hesitantly met my gaze finally and cringed. "Christ sheila, that was a bit much don' ya think?"

"You're nothing more than a dirty rotten thief and a pig," I hissed before turning on my heel. I bumped into Deadshot trying to make my retreat and he gave me a smile and a nod before moving past me. June was at my side instantly and helped me all the way back to my room.

"You should have seen Rick's face," she said, trying to lighten the mood as I opened my door. "You beat everyone to the punch, literally."

"It was my punch to give," I muttered as I pulled my boots off. I let out a relieved sigh as I wiggled my toes. "That's better."

June sat on the couch and patted the spot next to her which I took. "You heard Katana though, she wasn't interested. I can vouch for her, she's always said no to him."

"That's not the point! It's the fact that he's done it before and had the nerve to do it when I was stupid enough to think I meant something to him!" I violently tugged my jewellery off as I spoke and June watched with a sad expression. "Did Rick tell you what Waller said? She had the nerve to threaten me with his death! It hurt me enough and then he goes and does that. Stupid!"

"Men in general are stupid," June sighed. "But, maybe you should actually talk to him."

I frowned at her. "Pshh I meant I'm stupid. Honestly, what did I think would happen?"

"Unfortunately I can't really answer that for you," she said softly before getting up. "Maybe you should get some rest though, it's been a long day."

I ran my hand through my hair and gave her a small nod. "Yeah, sure. Thanks for coming up with me."

"Of course," she said smiling. "I'm always here if you need me. Rick is too. Don't be too quick to judge though, there's always two sides to a story. Goodnight Mallory."

"Night June," I replied and she shut the door behind her. I automatically headed to my bedroom and yanked off my club outfit, I was thoroughly sick of wearing it. As I finished slipping on my Cheshire Cat pajama pants I noticed the stuffed unicorn sitting up perfectly on my bed.

"What are you staring at?" I asked it with a glare. I got no response of course, and eventually gave in and grabbed it as I curled up on the soft sheets.

"Your owner is a real dick Pinky," I whispered while cradling the unicorn to my chest, he was undeniably soft after all. Just as I felt my eyelids starting to droop from the sheer exhaustion of the days events, I heard four quick knocks on the door.

"Oh fuck me," I huffed, sitting up. The last thing I wanted was to speak to anybody else in this goddamn insane asylum. I shuffled down the hall, Pinky clutched tightly under one arm and reluctantly cracked open the front door. The Captain stood there looking extremely sheepish and I quickly went to slam the door in his face but the bastard stuck his foot in the door before I got the chance.

"Fuck, easy sheila. I know ya mad as a cut snake, but can't a bloke speak his peace, eh?"

I glared at him, before letting the door fall open and stepping backwards to let him in. He softly closed the door behind him and simply stood there awkwardly scratching his facial hair.

"Cheers love. Anyway can we sit or...?"

"You can stay where you are Auss hat," I warned. "This won't take long I'm sure."

He raised an eyebrow at me. "Auss hat?"

I continued to glare at him but replied. "Yes Auss hat, like an asshat but Australian."

He stared at me for a moment baffled before giving his head a shake.

"Alright ye, suppose I deserve that. But come on love, it really wasn't what it looked like. That lady ain't my bowl of rice, ya know?"

"No I don't know!" I said, voice raising. "I mean why should I trust you? Everyone else seems to think otherwise!"

"Don't say that now, it's cause we're alike you an' I. Speaking of, I see ya still got Pinky eh? That means somethin." He nodded towards the unicorn I was still holding with a hopeful expression. I had almost forgotten about the little pink stuffy.

"Here," I said stiffly, holding the unicorn out. "You can have it back then."

I hated to admit it but my heart thumped painfully at the hurt look that crossed his face, but he took the unicorn from my hand anyway and tucked it back inside his jacket without a word. I bent my head sadly.

"You know, Waller used you against me today. It hurt because for some reason I care about you but what hurt more was knowing she could use that against me in the first place. I'm risking a lot by getting close to you, you and the rest of the team. This isn't a game Digger, this is all real."

He shifted on his feet and stuck his hands in his pockets. "Christ I know that. I just don't like ta think about it is all. But you mean a lot to me Mal, I know we don' know each other that well, but you were the first person ta not treat me like the piece of shit I really am."

I looked up at him in surprise and I felt a reluctant tugging in my chest.

"I don' fancy her, honest. I was only being myself teasing and whatnot. Never seen her dress so, well ya know," he shrugged. "Ya looked drop dead gorgeous though sheila, most beautiful woman I've ever seen. My nan would slap me good if I passed that up."

"I believe I already did," I muttered, trying to stop the grin that was threatening to appear.

Digger smiled at me hesitantly. "Ye suppose ya did. Good one too."

We stood there for a few seconds, silent and appraising each other before the Captain finally stepped forward a couple inches and took my chin in his hand. I could feel his thumb lightly brush my bottom lip and my breath hitched.

"So," he said finally. "Can ya give a bloke a fair go?"