Chapter Seven: An Unexpected Visitor

The money from Bruce Wayne's fundraiser was a godsend. Only after Harleen went through inventory, repairs, updating, remodeling, rehiring, did she understand how much it was actually needed to keep Arkham sustainable and safe.

Flinging herself into one of the couches in her office, Harleen flipped on the television to try and decompress. She hadn't slept in days, hadn't had a good night's sleep for even longer and it was beginning to show.

"Hey, you don't look so good," Holly said standing by the door with a coffee mug in hand.

"You were supposed to go home over five hours ago, Harleen you almost died once this year, don't kill yourself working now." She added, walking over to take a seat.

"Well there's still too much to get done, and by the looks of things we'll be getting more patients here soon enough." Harleen told Holly as she nodded her head in the direction of the television. The news flashed footage of the notorious "Joker" getting his face time. Holly sighed and took the remote from Harleen, with a click the TV shut down and she stood up.

"Please go home Harleen, get some sleep." With that final statement Holly left the room and Harleen rubbed her temples gently. Keeping herself busy had been the only thing keeping Harleen from thinking about what had happened, and it kept herself from sleeping which stopped the night terrors. But now it looked like the work load was simmering down a little and sleep was getting to be more and more of a necessity for her health's sake.

"Alright…" Standing up slowly, Harleen grabbed her bag and shoved some of her belongings inside. Then once she had securely locked her office door she left the building and headed towards the parking lot. The rain was coming down hard now and it was dark outside with only the street lights eliminating the lot. Harleen walked in the direction of her car, but stopped suddenly in the middle of the road when she noticed a shadow slip past a few cars.

"It's probably just a security guard…" She said out loud in the attempt to comfort herself. It didn't help however as her hand started to shake, rattling her keys as she continued to walk. The final steps were in more of a run, but as she moved her keys towards the lock a hand grabbed her's and tightened causing her to drop the keys.

"Long time no see Doctor." Harleen attempted to scream for help, but the figure's hand covered her mouth muffling the scream.

"Shh shh, no need for that." The voice was smooth and crisp. As his face entered the light, she recognized him as being her ex-colleague Jonathan Crane. He tightened his hold on her mouth and her eyes teared up with pain. Crane took this moment to pull his mask down all the way and continued.

"I just came to see how the job's treating you. Stressful isn't it? Starts to make you a little crazy…I know. But I have something to make it all better."

Harleen struggled against his now excruciating hold, but before she could attempt any kind of thought out maneuver, gas shot out from his wrist and he let go of her mouth. She collapsed to her knees, coughing and choking as it entered her lungs. By this time she could hear shouts and the sound of feet moving in her direction.

"Dr. Quinzel! Dr. Quinzel, are you alright?" It was one of the security guards, Frank Davis if Harleen remembered correctly. He patted her back gently once the gas dispersed, and called in to the building. Harleen couldn't really pay attention to what he was saying, she was waiting for the mind shredding terrors to return, but they didn't.

"Did you see where they went?" He asked once she composed herself and stood up.

"No, but I know who it was."

"Here, let's get you back in the building." Taking her arm, Frank led her into the Asylum and sat her down on one of the chairs near the reception room. Holly looked positively petrified and ran over to her immediately.

"Harleen, what happened?!"

Frank kneeled in front of Harleen, waiting for the reply.

"It was Dr. Crane…he came out of nowhere and,"

"And?" Holly asked gently.

"He infected me with something. But it's not like the last time…I feel fine aside from being a little shaken up."

"I think we should get you to the hospital." Frank said, then looked over in Holly's direction.

"I agree, you drive her down, I'll grab the things and park her car back at her apartment."

The drive to the hospital seemed to take forever, Harleen kept her eyes out the window waiting for the effects of the drug to take hold. But the only thing she felt was the adrenaline from the attack continuing to run through her body.

"Ok now squeeze this for me, thank you." The doctor poked Harleen with a needle to draw her blood, then pressed a cotton ball on it and had her hold it till he got a bandage.

"I'm going to test this, then we'll know for sure what it was he had you inhale. I would like you to stay here during the process where it's safe. Feel free to sleep, you look exhausted."

After the doctor left the room, Harleen laid down on the exam table but couldn't sum up the courage to close her eyes. She watched the hands of the clock move instead.

The doctor entered again a good while later. The chart was in his hand but he was flipping through it wildly.

"I don't understand it…"

"What?" Harleen sat up instantly.

"The blood test came back clear; everything is showing absolutely normal…well besides some vitamin deficiencies."

"What?"

"Every test has come back fine…and you say you feel no symptoms?"

"None,"

"Then I guess I have no choice but to send you home. Should anything change however, I want you to come right back."

"Alright." Harleen got off of the table in utter astonishment. Had Crane been bluffing, did he just want to get under her skin? Why risk getting caught? Harleen contemplated this through the drive with Holly back to her apartment, and throughout that night as well.