Needless to say, I had trouble sleeping that night. I tossed and turned until the sheets were so knotted around my legs that I literally fell out of bed the next morning. I couldn't get that clown off my mind, I replayed our time together over and over until I was no longer sure what was reality and what was my imagination.

The next morning I looked over my notes, my eyes stuck on the little cage of laughs I had made.

I was disturbed that such a short period of time had made such an impression on me; it was so uncharacteristic of me to do something like that.

If only I could get an actual fucking grip, I'd be fine.

I tried not to overanalyze my behavior, I'd only make myself crazier than I already felt.

I'd meet with him again in another day. I had more than enough time to build a better structure for our next session.

Two could play at this game.

I was far more capable of handling this than any other 'experienced' doctor, I was already subscribed to his level of crazy and it didn't seem too bad. If I wasn't capable of ever bringing him to sanity, then why try? I could easily influence his behavior, even if it was by a hair. That's all I needed. He wasn't so far gone that I was not capable of talking to him, having him open up to me was a beautiful start.

The story about Tommy and Annie, it would be forever etched in my mind as a perfect insight to the man known as The Joker. It was textbook shit, and I got him there. I was able to have him tell me something no other doctor had ever heard before, and probably would never hear.

Even he had doubted me, but refusing to see anyone else was my ticket to a promising relationship with him. He wanted me.

He wanted me.

I felt the blood rush to my cheeks, I didn't mean it like that but the more I thought about it, the more I realized it to be true. I had used it to my advantage, but I should definitely play along more next time.

As I sat at my desk later that day, I felt the same little draw to the vending machine that I had the previous day.

Gotta sweet tooth? Or did you just need a fix cause you've had a stressful day?

Ignoring my rather large bottle of water, I stood up and began the walk to satisfy my little craving.

However, a sudden commotion half way there stopped me from reaching my destination- a group of orderlies were running towards me so I shrank against the wall to avoid them. I watched them disappear around the corner, before I started walking towards the vending machines once more.

Wondering what could possibly cause such a panic for them, I stopped in front of the soda machine and began pushing quarters through the tiny slot. I punched the button for root beer and waited for the familiar banging to signal that it had arrived. I simply looked down. I stood completely still.

I couldn't stop the feeling that someone was watching me.

I didn't want to bend down to reach for the soda, for some reason I felt extremely uneasy. I peered down the hallway both ways, somewhat expecting something there in order to confirm my suspicions. It was eerily quiet, but I took that as my cue to grab the soda so I could go back to my office.

I bent over and grasped the cold metallic material tightly before straightening up.

Only to feel someone holding me from behind.

I dropped the can but the person behind me caught it with surprising grace. It was then that I saw a huge grin, practically carved into the top of the hand that had snaked around me.

It was him.

"Shhhhhhhhh, be very, very quiet….We're-"

"Hunting wabbits," I interrupted, not even conscious of how I could speak, let alone finish his sentence.

I heard him chuckle quietly as he pulled me closer into his body, my back pressed against him.

"I'm starting to think that I lucked out, getting assigned to you. In more ways than one…" his free hand wrapped itself around my neck, but almost tenderly. The texture of his skin was grating against mine, and yet it was utterly electrifying the longer he lingered.

I heard commotion down the hall and knew that the orderlies were on their way.

"Just wanted to say that I'm looking forward to our next session, doc," his breath hot in my ear. His lips were practically running over the shell of my ear, and I suddenly felt weak, falling deeper into his clutches.

And suddenly I felt the can of soda thrust in my hand as I was pushed forward, my momentum only stopped by the vending machine in front of me.

I heard yelling down the hall, they had found him. I knew he had already taken off down the hallway, attempting to create distance between us.

So it didn't look suspicious.

He wanted me.

I looked at the soda in my hand, half in a daze. The tab was already popped open, I didn't even hear him do it. I turned around, feeling as if I was in slow motion, everything was happening so slowly and yet too quickly for me to process.

The Joker was already several feet away when the orderlies passed me, too focused to probably even know I was there.

I heard his stretched cackling, echoing off the walls and hitting me like gusts of wind. It was exhilarating to almost get caught with him holding me like that.

Caught? Harley, what are you saying?

He wanted me.

I heard more yelling and then a brutal slam against the linoleum of the floor. I tried to see what had happened but there were more orderlies now, their hulking white masses hiding the clown from my view. As I got closer, I took a few gulps of my soda, relishing in the bubbles biting my throat on their way down.

"Hey, you think he was looking for you?" a voice stated loudly over the commotion.

I looked to my right and saw one of the usual orderlies for The Joker, Sam. I was suddenly shaken from my daze and it was like everything in my head was so clear that it was almost blinding.

Fucking say something, Harley.

"What are the odds that he'd be on this floor?" I smiled, shrugging my shoulders as I did my best to seem indifferent to the scene that unlaid before me.

They were really giving it to him as they tried their best to restrain him again.

He had attempted to escape.

Or did he really just want to say hi to me?

Stop it, Harley. Just stop. What are you fucking thinking?

Sam had spoken again, and I had dazed out again.

"Sorry, what was that?" I tried to seem as if I were thinking about something worthwhile as I scrunched my eyebrows.

"I said that I'm sorry for the interruption, Dr. Quinzel. I know you probably already got your hands full with this one," his slight grin slightly fading the more he looked at me. "You okay?" he suddenly inquired, taking a step towards me.

"Yeah I'm fine," instinctively taking a step back.

"Just not used to seeing anyone get roughed up?" he asked, the seedy grin on his face coming back.

"Yes, definitely not used to this," my eyes fixed to the streak of lime green that kept zipping below me.

"If you gentlemen, would excuse me," I practically shouted. I was eager to get away from the scene, I couldn't stand another second watching and listening to him getting 'roughed up'.

Almost all the orderlies had stilled when I yelled, just as the Joker had. They were all blocking the hall, and I needed to go by them if I were to go back to my office. Somewhat surprised by my boldness, some of the orderlies moved out of the way to let me by, all of them looking at me peculiarly. The Joker, especially.

He looked at me as though I had done something so unfathomable that he even he was slightly shocked.

They WERE in my way.

As I walked down the corridor, I only heard some quiet shuffling as they lifted him to his feet and began walking him down the opposite way.

I had gotten them to stop, and now I had to ensure that he wouldn't be placed in confinement.

Once I reached my office I immediately got on the phone, dialing the director.

"Yes?" his usual drawl reaching my anxious ear.

"Afternoon, Doctor. It's Quinzel. I was hoping to trouble you for a favor," I smiled, placing my can of soda on the desk.