Chapter 8: The Runaway Clown

Hey everyone, I am back! This chapter's book is by Lois Walfrid Johnson

I sighed turning around and reaching out to him with a smile. When my hand reached into

emptiness I remembered.

He was gone.

I sighed again, although not at all peacefully and rolled onto my back. This was something I still had to get used to. Being alone.

I sat up and rubbed my head with a groan. These thoughts were all too familiar. My head throbbed form the drinks last night.

After the kiss I'd turn around and walked home. Basically half naked I'd felt so safe walking through Gotham City because I knew that I was protected and people would be to afraid to come near me.

I belonged to him now.

Despite the headache and slight nausea I was singing while showering and during my entire morning routine. Hailey wasn't answering her phone which was a shame for her, because I'd finally reached the point she'd wanted me to.

At Arkham I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.

When was the last time you smiled like this? I wondered. When were you this happy? After Daniel proposed?

Honestly, had I ever been this happy?

I wasn't sure anymore.

When I arrived at Arkham I felt a sudden urge to check my reflection in the mirror, but I also knew it didn't matter what I looked like. The important thing was: he liked me. And I liked him. We fit well together.

I knew I had to wipe the smile off my face once I walked inside Arkham. Arkham was not a happy place, even if I had found my happiness here.

"Harleen!"

I tried to repress a sigh as I turned around. Daniel was here because he sometimes had surgeries on some of the patients. But that didn't explain why he wanted to talk to me.

"You need to come with me to the directors office right now."

Stay calm, Harley-Baby, I heard Hailey's voice in my ear, begging me to be cautious.

"Morning, Dr. Kendall." I smiled at my ex-fiance. "What's up?"

"Follow me." He all but growled.

Our steps echoed in the wide, empty halls. The sterile, lonely world of Arkham hit me full on and my heart went out to the patients who lived here.

This lonely, cold world was theirs.

"Dr. Quinzel." Being in Dr. Arkham's office was always like being inside the principals office. He gave me a stern gaze, but said: "It's good to see you, please take a seat."

Daniel was still fuming beside me and I wished he would leave. I didn't know why he was here.

"Dr. Quinzel, I do not know how to say this." The head of Arkham began. "But it seems your patient, the Joker, has escaped from Arkham Asylum."

My heart dropped into my stomach and I felt myself spiraling towards a deep darkness. He used you. I thought with a numbing clearheaded levelness that hurt. He used you and now he's left you.

"I realize this must be a shock for you."

Shock, yes.

I was going to cry. I was going to cry in front of ex-fiance and my boss.

Because of a boy.

"Um..." I swallowed, trying my hardest to fight against the strange pressure in my throat. "I...I don't know what to say."

He left me. He played with me, he kissed me and then he just left me.

"Do you have any idea where he would have gone?"

"No!" I couldn't hide the desperation in my vo

ice. I had no idea where he would have gone because he left without a word.

"Think about it." Daniel muttered next to me and I shot him an angry glare. "I'm sorry Harleen, but my Dad voiced his concerns early on, you have an unprofessional relationship with your patient and now he has vanished."

"Do you really want to talk to me about unprofessional relationships?!"

"Lets all calm down." Dr. Arkham said in something that was supposed to be a calming tone, but was too strained. "Dr. Quinzel, obviously we made a mistake by assigning you to the Joker. It was too much, too early in your career. We will be reassigning you to another patient, so you can continue your internship."

He was being gracious, he was offering me a second chance when I didn't deserve one. I should have accepted should have thanked him. But I could only stare at him.

How could this have happened to me? How could I go from wanting to sing with joy to this speechless, desperate mess?

Again?

How was I in this position again? Being the one who was left behind?

Dr. Arkham's gaze went to Daniel beside me very briefly as if communicating without words.

"Perhaps it would be wise, if you–"

The ringing of the phone interrupted him and he answered it almost immediately.

"Why are you here?" I said quietly to Daniel. "Why are you trying to sabotage me?"

"Sabotage you?" He repeated, obviously shocked. "I am trying to help you!"

I couldn't help it: I laughed.

"Harleen..." He whispered, looking briefly at our boss who was still on the phone. "My Dad told me about what you said to him. That he owed you a favor, because of our break up..." He swallowed hard as if with great effort. "That was so manipulative, so unlike you...it scares me how much this vile creature has his hooks in you."

I was speechless. Finally standing up for myself made me the manipulative one?

"So." Dr. Arkham said in a strange tone after hanging up the phone. "Good news, the Joker is back in his cell."

"What?!"

"What?"

Daniel was furious. I was elated.

He had come back.

Dr. Arkham nodded, his cheeks coloring slightly. "We may have overreacted."

Daniel has been stunned to silence and so have I.

He came back here. He actually returned. For me.

"Dr. Quinzel." The director turned to me. "Obviously patient-doctor privilege applies here, but if your patient has somehow been leaving the premises of Arkham Asylum, then you must report it." He gave me a stern look. "He was not in his cell this morning and we can not be sure about his whereabouts last night. There was some malfunction with the camera system. Do you know if and how he has been leaving?"

Both men turned to look at me. The director had a more open expression, but Daniel looked livid.

"I..." I shrugged twirling my blonde hair around my finger, in a way I knew Hailey would approve. "I don't know how he would leave and he never said anything to me." I gave the director a smile. "Actually he's been doing really well, he's been opening up more and more to me, about his past and his current emotional state."

Daniel actually snorts beside me.

"Excuse me." I smile at my boss. "But if he is back in my cell, can I go and see my patient now?"

Dr. Arkham sighs, obviously torn.

"I think–"

"I know I'm only an intern." I interrupted Daniel. "And I know it looks bad that he left, but he came back. That has to mean something, right?"

"It means he's playing with us!"

I don't even glance at my ex and coldly explain: "It means the therapy is working. It means he is willing to change and wants to continue."

"That sounds like wishful thinking."

"Ok." I spin around to him. "Why are you even here?! You're a neuro-surgeon!"

Daniel doesn't flinch at my harsh tone, but I can see his surprised.

"Dr. Kendall Junior is here because of his trial." Dr. Arkham explained in a calm tone. "He will be taking a look at some of our patients from a neurological perspective."

"Which patients?"

Both men look at each other and I can feel the tension between us.

"Which patients?"

"The Joker is at the top of the list." Daniel said, realizing he was the only patient I was interested in. "I have an appointment with him later today, to explain the risks of the procedure."

The words risks and procedure ignited a rage in me that was more powerful than anything I'd felt in a very long time. I wanted to tear this man apart with my bare hands. His talented hands that performed groundbreaking surgeries. His hands that had once been an important part of my life. I wanted to cut them off, wanted to break him in a million pieces.

"You wouldn't dare." I threatened in a low voice and kept his stare long enough until he dropped it.

"I might cure him." He muttered. "Isn't that what you want?"

"What I want..." I snapped, "...is to see my patient and find out what he has been doing all night!"

Dr. Arkham nodded. "Yes, please return to your patient, Dr. Quinn." He smiled at me but it seemed off as he explained: "Be warned that you and the Joker are on probation as of right now. If he steps one toe out of line you will be off his case, do you understand?"

"Yes, Sir."

I understood perfectly. The question was whether Mr. J would understand or not. I needed to see him, I needed to speak with him right now.

Outside of the office I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Harleen, wait up!"

Oh for the love of all that was good.

"What do you want Daniel?!"

"If the Joker consents he can be part of my trial, you can't stop it."

I spun around to him.

"He is depressed, bipolar and probably has multiple personalities, he isn't fit to consent to anything! I am his therapist and I am the one who would have to give you consent!" I stepped closer and he actually backed away. Easy, girl. Hailey's voice rang clear in my head. We don't want him to be all afraid. I ignored her and growled: "And I promise you, David Kendall I will never give you consent for anything, do you hear me?"

I spun around leaving him standing there and hurried to get to Mr. J.

So what do you guys think? Next chapter has the Joker in it again :)