Chapter XVI: The ability of feel

The trembling voice of the experienced Dr. Howard in surgery room echoed the silence of the long corridor of white walls and gray ceramics of the hospital. But more importantly, it echoed in the disturbed and maniacal criminal mind of the King of Gotham. The doctor's voice sounded so strong in the complex mind of the joker that he was forced to lower his weapon in a quick attempt to analyze those few words that made him feel an extreme pain in his chest as if they were ripping again all the air of his lungs.

"She is... pregnant" he let the air escape by repeating the doctor's words to himself in an almost inaudible whisper as he rested his open hand on the wall, with his arm half extended as if trying to mitigate the storm of conflicting emotions that lowered his inside. He gasped when in a thousandth of a second his conscience showed him a movie screen in which was projected a chaotic and dangerous film where his brain told him the reality of what was happening, what happened and what could happen to Harley in that... "state"... Suffocated, he felt incredibly stifled analyzing all the circumstances... he... was going to be... father?... and inexplicably felt the same warmth he felt when he hugged Harley and some euphoria ran quickly through his veins.

"Boss?" The voice of the most loyal of his men woke him from his trance and the first thing he did was with a gun in his hand, take the frightened Dr. Howard from both sides of his face and squeeze it with his fingers looking terrifyingly straight at the eyes.

"What did you say, doctor? I'm going to... be a father?" He felt stranger when he said it with words.

The doctor clung desperately with his hands to the wall in front of such a potent psycho look while answering

"Yes... what you heard... she is pregnant."

"I hope it's not a damn joke or I'm going to tear it apart!" Joker lowered his face threateningly as he felt his heart beat a thousand times an hour.

"No, it's not a joke, it's true" he hastened to speak "there is no doubt, she is pregnant, the blood tests prove it"

Then Joker released the doctor and advanced with three steps to Johnny looking at the gray ceramic floor.

"Frost... did you heard what the doctor said?" he raised his face "I'm going to be a father..." Johnny thought he saw a crooked smile leaning to the right in his boss's face and smiled to himself; he knew that his boss was an insane homicidal maniac, as well as, for all the years of service at his side he knew that that crooked and terrifying smile of J, was sufficient indication to know that his boss was beginning to better assimilate the words of the Dr. Howard.

"Yeah, I congratulate you boss... I'm happy for you" unexpectedly Johnny saw how J held out his left hand with his tattooed smile and was surprised with a lot of; He knew perfectly well that his boss did not shake hands.

Johnny shook the hand of his villainous boss feeling as he squeezed her too hard and realized that J had a great internal struggle with his emotions. Then he released her and with the same combed his green hair back to turn to Dr. Howard trying to recover from such shocking news.

"Doctor... I'll ask you a question and I hope you respond better this time - I warned you with your look-how long?... How much time does Harls need to stay here before he can take her home? -

"She is very in a very serious state and I really don't want to remind her that it was a very complex surgery, she needs to be constantly under medical supervision..." the doctor swallowed seeing the angry face of J that told him to be direct "as I said before, we are not sure if both manage to survive the surgery" Joker gave three quick and loud shots around the doctor's head that hit the white wall and this immediately shouted terrified "THEY WILL SURVIVE I'LL MAKE IT SURE!"

"Listen to me, doctor, the only thing that prevents me from having a bullet in my head, is that I need her alive... if you repeats what you said, you will not suffer the same fate" he spoke sternly and inflamed by anger trying to hide the fear that he felt when the doctor reminded him that both were still in the latent danger of death because of Double S and the fury invaded him remembering that in his desperation he had let the snake escape, but he would be responsible for causing him as much pain as the overflowing fury that he felt at that moment, now the only thing that mattered was the safety of Harley and his... offspring.

"Answer the question asked by my boss" Johnny speaks seriously "we must get Harley out of here as soon as possible, the police will not be long in coming."

"That's impossible! She cannot leave the hospital!" Johnny and J pointed it directly back in the head and the doctor raised his hands "well, well, given the conditions... on three to four days at least so that it can stabilize enough and can be moved with less risk"

He was going to say with less risk of death, but obviously he preferred to leave it like that and just then one of Joker's men, specifically the one who preferred to carry the rectangular box on his head to hide his identity, came running down the hall with a machine gun in her hands.

"Boss, Batman and the police just arrived."

"What opportune... Frost engargate that nobody between" Joker ordered with authority looking a few seconds the door of the sugery room and immediately it contracted it's jaw separating it's glance quickly avoiding therefore the desire to enter to see Harley. He had to take care of the bat first and his mind quickly thought of a strategy to keep Harley in the hospital for as long as it took. Immediately he hold the arm of the tightly scared doctor.

"Come with me doctor, I'm going to introduce you to my friend Bat" Dr. Howard suddenly dragged down the long corridor of the Hospital while Johnny and the man with the rectangular box stood guarding outside the door, under the strict order of no Let no one interrupt Harley's recovery.

Joker dragged Dr. Howard abruptly down the long corridor of the Hospital while Johnny and the man with the rectangular box stood guard outside the door, under the strict order not to allow anyone to interrupt Harley's recovery.

Outside the Gotham Hospital, the shrill sound of the sirens of the police vehicles echoed with the blue and red that illuminated the sidewalk and part of the large, wide concrete stairs that led to the large glass door, the main entrance to the hospital. The number of armed officers on one side of the many police patrols mounted side by side was alarming, forming a circle of contention around the hospital building. Each of the weapons carried by the most reckless officers pointed forward while listening from above to the loud and loud sound of the antlers of the two police helicopters that were flying in the darkness of the night; these illuminated the hospital with its powerful reflective light in the form of a circle that moved assiduously throughout the sector of the main entrance of the hospital; also illuminating from time to time all the police officers who had dared to wait for the departure of the most feared villain in the city; waiting determined that any chaotic event could happen. None of them doubted the capacity of destruction that the Joker was able to perform, much less after only two months ago and something more, the city witnessed the fall of one of the most important buildings, as was the intendancy of Gotham. The black Batmovil was stationed in the center of the containment barrier formed by the police patrols and its owner, black coat bat and prominent chin stood firmly next to the head of the most important police station in the city.

"I have waited too long Gordon, I have to enter."

"It is not time to intervene, we don't know what is being brought up this time and I don't have to remind you that the hospital has a large number of patients at this time. I will not put their lives at risk... enough we had with the disaster of the quartermaster."

"Listen to me, that will not happen this time. I have to act fast if we want to save the lives of those people."

"Oh yeah? Who assures me that you will not blow up the hospital once you get inside?"

"I don't have a guarantee for you Gordon, but I know him well enough to know that none of this will stop him."

"Neither nothing of what you can say to him, the only thing of which I have certainty is that he is insane and will not move from here until he knows exactly what he wants."

Batman squeezed his big fists, then at that moment saw his archenemy leave with much of his bloodstained clothing and pointed with his gun plated in gold to a Dr. of advanced age in the one hundred of his head that looked really horrified by the dangerous the situation in which he was involved and also blinded by all the lights that illuminated him directly, as well as the weapons of all the officers who pointed to Joker, who seemed to care at all about the chaotic situation. Batman missed him enormously to see his bloodied nemesis, it was not common to see him in that state and so he could see from a distance he noticed that Joker came with a countenance that radiated anger and shadowed evil, as his scowl and powerful furious look what they made it clear; this time Joker did not seem to be in one of his amusement games and this hit the bat more. Batman hurried forward up the steps, leaving Gordon's hand stretched, who was infuriated by the recklessness of his act. Although this was normal in Batman, who always acted under his own justice.

"Well, I'm here, you have Joker this time" Batman addressed with a deep and bitter voice to his nemesis.

"Bat, I see you brought all the police personnel, but this is not a game... no... I'll blow the doctor's brains if you take another step" Joker warned shaking the doctor's body "but more importantly... there at least seven machine guns of my armed men who will be happy to blow the head of every patient in the fucking hospital"

"The only thing I understand is that you have to stop this for the good of the city" Batman replied in a husky voice.

"Always talking about good and bad Bat... but this time I'm not in the mood for so much chatter. You're going to do what I tell you, because if you don't do it, a real hell will fall on Gotham that neither you nor anyone else can stop."

"LET THE DOCTOR GO NOW!" Batman shouted exhausted.

"Oh, I'm going to let go, but before you hear what the doctor has to say... speak without fear doctor tell Bat what he told me a moment ago" Joker roughly pushed the hundred of the terrified doctor and this spoke, before the unusual look of the bat.

"We... well, I told him a moment ago... he "Doctor Howard looked askance at J "that ... the girl is pregnant."

"What girl Joker?" Batman bellowed.

"My girl Bat, the infamous Harley Quinn!" he emphasized her name proudly "she has the future heir of Gotham in her womb and it would be excellent news if she were not BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH!" the joker screamed angrily "now you're going to follow my orders Bat, because as time this is not a game and I am not going to lose to Harley"

Batman was silent for a moment shocked by the news, that explained the bloodied clothing of his archenemy, but the first thing that went through his mind, was that if Joker was already crazy and immersed in evil, it would be much worse for the city if it unleashed all his anger if something bad happened to his girl in that state. He had to take another strategy or he was sure that everything would end devastatingly bad and with his typical hoarse voice, this time more bitter asked him.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?"

"Well... Bat, it seems that you're understanding" Joker would have smiled at another time; more this time I could not and continued "I need three four days to get Harley out of here without complications, until then the Hospital will be captive and will be shelter for my men, like I said, I will not hesitate to kill each of the people here."

"That's crazy Joker, you can't keep the Hospital captive."

"Yes I can, and I can do many other things that you don't want to see if Harley doesn't get out of here" J's deep eyes warned Batman of the truthfulness of his words and Batman replied in a serious and cold tone.

"I don't doubt you will."

"Well, that's what I wanted to hear... now the first thing you have to do is remove all the scum from here. Second, tomorrow I want to receive the mayor's visit early in the morning or I'll put all my explosives scattered around the city... and you know there are many... Third, I don't want annoying interruptions the days I'm here... I want total peace of mind for my queen and for Last; I'll say it just one more time... I don't want games Bat, this is not fun for me and neither will it be for you if you break some of the orders I just told you."

"Give that for fact" spoke with notorious annoyance in his voice.

"That's it?

"Yes, that's it, you can leave" Batman turned around with his long black cloak and Joker gave him the last warning of the night with a somber voice "no dirty tricks... Batman"

The bat stopped its footsteps for a second without turning around and then continued on its way to Gordon and gave them the indications of the case; understanding J's serious warning just by listening to him says "Batman". But neither did he need to be warned, he did not doubt that Joker was perfectly capable of fulfilling each of his dangerous threats as he had let him know on many occasions where his archenemy enjoyed his games causing complete chaos and destruction in the city. The only big difference this time, was that Batman was more than clear that this was not a game for Joker and that made Batman feel uneasy, especially after learning that Harley was pregnant... no doubt, was aware that that would bring serious problems for the future of the Gotha city, but for the moment the bat's justified duty told him that for the sake of all the wildcard hostages, he had to follow his orders... since everything indicated that Joker more than wanting to cause a disaster in the hospital, all he wanted was the safety of his queen and probably if he fulfilled his orders he would save as many lives as possible from the hospital. Batman came to Gordon at the serious look of J from the hospital entrance while still lit by the strong reflectors of the two helicopters flying over the skies. Gordon immediately addressed Batman with concern in his voice.

"What do he want?"

Batman without looking at him replied

"The safety of his queen."

"You have to be more specific if you want me to understand."

"Announce the withdrawal of all officers or people will die."

"You can't come and say that as nothing happens."

"Just does what I tell you fast Gordon, I'll tell you the details in the police station."

Batman's deep voice told him he should listen quickly and Gordon gave the police radio signal to all his armed officers.

"Withdrawn... I repeat, Withdrawn."

At the end of this, Joker observed how the two helicopters flying over him did not illuminate him turning around to get lost in the dark night sky and each one of the armed officers who pointed to him went inside with great speed within their corresponding patrols for later, as the helicopters back down and start retreating through the streets one followed by another. Finally he saw how Batman gave him a last stern look before entering the custom Batmobile with its unmistakable appearance of armor rather than a vehicle and as he did on many occasions, stepped the accelerator to the bottom and then leave too quickly for the streets of Gotham.

Joker did not wait for all the patrols to make the withdrawal, it was enough to see Batman retire and went back to the hospital convinced that the bat had understood his orders well, but of course, he would not trust that and without doubt he would have to talk with his right hand to increase as much as he could all the security inside the hospital putting all his men in strict rigor to be attentive to any movement out of place. For his luck, he had a large number of men at his services who were more than willing to follow all his indications. It was enough with some calls that Johnny made and he would have the whole hospital as a damn concentration center for a war; not for nothing was the King of Gotham and now was when he would most use all the power and influence he had to maintain the complete security of now... the two people who mattered most to him in the world.

Joker came in and his men had learned to sow chaos. The hospital was in a real mess and all the hospital staff were tied up and gagged all over the large place, as were all the people trapped inside, minutes before he made his entrance with Harley bleeding in his arms. J turned to one of his men and roughly pushed the doctor towards him.

"Vigy it."

"I understood, boss" Black Venom nodded, grabbing the doctor's shoulder roughly and Joker went straight to the emergency corridor that ran into Harley where Johnny and the man in the rectangular box on his head with his machine gun crossed in his hand as if it were a soldier he was waiting for standing in front of the door. Johnny felt some inner calm when he saw his boss get to them; Joker did not show any tranquility in his face, but it was more than clear to Johnny that his boss had delivered with the utmost dexterity the spectacular police ambush; as expected of him.

"Frost, in less than an hour I want to see a real army inside the hospital."

"I'll take care of calling everyone, I can tell you with total certainty that nobody will come in unless you want it.

"You will do whatever it takes to keep your word... now go and take care of that."

Johnny understood perfectly that his boss wanted privacy and went down the hall with another man by his side. J opened the door and a cold glance was enough for the three frightened nurses who were sitting on the floor leaning their backs against the wall; so that they would instantly stand up and leave the emergency room quickly, leaving the King of Gotham in complete lonelyness with his queen.

Joker looked at Harley reclining and slightly leaning on the hospital bed, with his eyes closed and his long hair of two colors, now it was dirty with traces of blood and the oxygen mask over his mouth gave him the vital air, while for a intravenously received a blood transfusion in her left forearm and her body was now dressed in a light blue nightgown under a thin sheet of the same color surrounded by wires that connected to her chest and indicated the heart rate on the computer screen monitor at his side. The thin green line that jutted subtly on the black background indicated the low pulsations of his heart. He had never seen Harley that fragile since he had reached his chaotic life and at that moment J did not give a shit about the unsettling doubts he had about whether he could really deal with a son or daughter and the only thing that mattered to him with all his soul was that they lived, both, he wanted them alive, he needed them alive and he was sure that he could never overcome them if he lost them. The fire in his chest made him understand that he could not lie, loved Harley pregnant and had a mixture of frustration and anger at not being able to take her home, hug her and take care that nothing happened to her.

He walked to her and slid his hand down her silhouette as he moved to her face, slightly tilted to the right, stroked the heart on his cheek that now looked whiter than usual. He was sure she did not know she was pregnant either.

"Harls... I'm going to take care of you and you have to be strong, because even if you do not know it, you have the future heir of Gotham in your womb... no... more than that, baby. you have my son with you... and I don't swear in vain that I would die for you... you must believe me... nothing bad is going to happen to you... and you will live to hear what I have to tell you... you are everything to me... both of you... are" J approached the rolling table that had part of the medical instruments and took metal scissors, then discovered Harley's body to start cutting a long line from the middle of her leg to the center of her abdomen. He put the scissors back in place and pushed away the ends of the cut nightgown, exposing her abdomen. Joker put his open hand on her belly reaching the height of his tattoo "Lucky You", which now acquired a new meaning for him and stroked him moving his fingers gently feeling that pleasant warmth travel his body he was kept like this for several minutes remembering how much changed his way of thinking since he met Dr. Quinzel.

*Flashback*

The young Doctor Harleen Quinzel with long golden hair and beautiful blue eyes walked confidently and smiling through the thinly disguised glances of the guards who stood at each of the heavy metal doors that led to each session of therapy sessions. Arkham inmates had their respective doctors assigned to make use of their improvements. Harleen did not bother to look back at the guards who seemed to notice that day had decided to highlight a little more the color of their lips with a slight lip gloss and simply walked sounding their black heels to the end of the long corridor with a notebook in his hands and a pen pendant from the pocket of his impeccable white coat.

The therapy room that he shared with the most famous villain of Gotham was exclusively at the end of the corridor, as it had been adapted to the doctor's demands, where there were no security cameras or microphones that could change the state of his patient's... favorite, as he had required it as a paramount requirement if they wanted to continue having the therapy sessions together.

Harleen finally reached the door and the guards did not need to look at her ID to recognize the doctor. Who was in charge of trying to achieve an improvement in THE JOKER. They greeted her politely and opened the door to him without stopping to hold their great weapons; She came in and her face lit up with a smile when she saw J leaning back in his chair with his eyes on the large window that let daylight into the dark, faded walls of the room.

"Oh ... Doctor Quinzel... Look radiant this morning."

"Well, thank you... to tell the truth, I woke up in a very good mood" she said, sitting in front of him.

"Tell me... maybe it's because you will treat some patient... who is interesting..." he said bowing slightly without hiding the subtle flirt in his words.

"All my patients are interesting Mr. J and I like to treat them all equally, if not, I wouldn't have chosen this profession, don't you think?" She said sounding more serious than usual trying to maintain the professionalism between patient and Doctor and Joker. He noticed making his annoyance clear with his threatening voice.

"Listen to me, Doctor. We will have problems if you compare me to someone else of your patients."

"Are you telling me you're different from the rest, Mr. J?"

"You can say it as you want, but be warned-Joker followed with serious tone, but she smiled to him mitigating his annoyance.

"Is it a good topic to deal with today, since when did he start to feel different?" she looked at him sweetly and Joker remembered that he should follow his strategy of seduction. Then he answered with humor.

"Since my hair is green and my skin pale Hahaha," he laughed with insane laughter, his eyes narrowing.

"I'm glad you recovered your sense of humor, Mr. J, but I was referring to the emotional part, your past has something to do with feeling different from others? If you want me to reveal part of my past, after the end of the session, doctor "J looked away sharply.

"Then, at least ... I could ..." He turned to look at her to silence her with his deep eyes fixed on her.

"I already told you doctor, I will not talk about that... change the subject or I'll have to punish you."

Harleen took out her pen and told him sympathetically, letting go of the subtle flirtation of his threat again.

"Mr. J, the past defines us to be the kind of people that we are in the future... capable of freely sharing feelings and emotions of affection."

"I am responsible for burning my past to never feel anything again" he said dryly.

"And you're never interested in starting a family?... to have children, perhaps?... Being a father is an important part of every man's life."

"I could never, doctor... to have something like that you need to be able to feel and as you can see, I am addicted to hurting people... not to mention that I greatly enjoy eliminating whoever gets in the way I chose... or because he thinks I'm locked in here?... Ha Ha Ha Ha" he cackled sarcastically "a son would be a serious problem!"

"And what about love? Have you felt it?... Love leads people to want to change certain aspects of their lives"she told him after writing a quick note in her notebook.

"It is very persistent Doctor Quinzel, look how far she has dragged me... I will tell her what I think of love only because of her audacity of keeping asking it, but it is all that she will get from me and we will end the session."

"Okay... I'm intrigued to know what he thinks of the strongest feeling that the human being is capable of feeling" she said calmly and Joker leaned back looking at the ceiling.

"To begin with, doctor, I don't believe on "love" is the strongest feeling, there are others that have much more importance about us, like hatred, revenge, greed... power..."

"Don't deviate from the subject Mr. J."

"I hope not to disappoint her with my answer Doctor..."Joker turned to her looking at her seriously "love is something ephemeral... electrical impulses that destabilize the hormones for a brief lapse of momentary… pleasure... are just chemical reactions."

-Don't disappoint me Mr. J, is what I expected to hear from the most feared man in Gotica ... but I hope that one day you may be able to say the word love without thinking about the definition you just told me.

"Enough." J shook his shirt violently, but did not scare his doctor away; accustomed to his outbursts, that if they were not stopped by the straitjacket, they could end up with her with some kind of contusion.

"There are 15 minutes left to finish the session. Mr. J, do you want to talk about something else?

"No ...; we played very deep songs in this session and I'm pretty tired now..." Joker looked at the shirt that was holding him and then said - besides, this really does not help.

"I'm sorry Mr. J... try to convince the council but they rejected my request" She heard him say and immediately J came up with another way to get closer to the doctor that was necessary in his escape plan.

"Oh... don't worry. Does it bother you if I make another request? Mmm?"

"No, tell me... How can I help you?" she said with a soft voice.

"Look doctor... I have an annoying itch on the right side of my neck... could you... help me with that?" He looked at her inquisitively cocking her neck and her tattoo of cards was more clearly distinguished.

"Will it hurt me?" She told him accommodating the elusive hair that always escaped her hair.

"The truth... Even if I wanted I couldn't do it at this time" he smiled insane with his open mouth showing the metal that covered part of his damaged teeth.

"A sincere answer Mr. J... I guess you're right" she stood up showing security. Yet inside she trembled with the rapid beating of her racing heart as she walked to stand behind the villain and fearfully put his fingers on the cards of his neck.

"He has warm hands, Doctor..."He murmured with a soft voice of guttural voice and Harleen avoided answering him or would show the nervousness that he felt for the intimacy of the moment.

"You can lower a little more?..."he asked in his pleasant whisper.

Harleen took a deep beath that even the joker felt it grinning maliciously to herself.

"Sure why not?" She replied and slid her hand to find his right clavicle scraping gently with her skin nails.

"That's right?"

"Yes"

At that moment the alarm on Harleen's wristwatch sounded telling him it was time to leave and that he should, even if he did not want to, leave the room. therapy before the guards entered by stopping the session.

"I have to go Mr. J" she said sliding his hand gently down her skin to push her away, making it feel like a caress for the villain "I hope I helped you feel better" she walked quickly taking her notes that were on the table that always separated them to go immediately to the exit door and before arriving he heard her call her stopping her steps.

"Doctor-Harleen turned to meet her deep stare in his eyes as she told him with firm tone of voice "you can write that you have a new advance in your therapy"

"What advance Mr. J?" she asked with a touch of nervousness that Joker noticed.

"It made me doubt if I still have the capacity to feel..."

Harleen smiled and answered without looking away.

"They can be hidden Mr. J, but that doesn't mean they are there..."

"See you in three days doctor, don't forget to look radiant for me."

*Flashback End*

The memory made J turn his gaze to Harley's sleeping face and he thought that both had changed a lot in those years, she had adapted to him of her own free will and he had changed for her without intending to, in fact, trying to avoid it all costs, but finally it was impossible and now it was indisputable, even for him, who was aware that both had managed to complement each other. J straightened the sheet again covering Harley's body and then moved closer to his face as he interlaced his fingers with hers in his right hand.
"You were right baby, you relived buried feelings... now you and I burn like fire... it would be hard to think of living without you... that's why you can not leave me and less now... that you will fulfill one of my most hidden desires..."
J let himself fall, sitting with his back to the surgery table, gently sliding Harley's arm so that it fell to his side without letting go of his hand with her fingers entwined, and he watched the harlequin bracelet that wrapped around his girl's wrist, thinking of that he had chosen the worst moment to tell her how he felt.
"It must be a kind of punishment for having let so many nights pass..."he muttered to himself. He was sure he would not sleep all night.