A/N: Here is chapter three guys and dolls. Enjoy!
Harleen left work late, as usual. She drove home with the radio off and the windows down, listening to the wind breezing by and the sound of the city. It was a quiet night, by Gotham's standards. There was the occasional car alarm going off or the voices of people chatting on the city sidewalks. Things in Gotham had seemed to have settled down now that the Joker was locked in his padded cell. Harleen thought of him in there, all alone.
Out of the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of the costume store. And in the window was a harlequin's outfit. She chuckled. The Joker had called her harlequin. How amused would he be if she showed up to work in that costume? What if she showed up right now in that costume? She could be the one to set him free. She could be the one to help him along in his crime sprees. He needed her.
It certainly had to be closed by now, but Harleen didn't care. Without thinking she pulled her car up to the sidewalk, parked and opened up her glove compartment. Harleen pulled out a mini revolver. Since the rise of the mob in Gotham she didn't feel safe leaving the house without it. She had a feeling she wouldn't have to worry about the mob anymore.
She walked to the door and with a sigh looked at the gun in her hand. She pulled her arm back and forcefully slammed the gun into the glass. The glass shattered and the store's alarm began to resonate. She quickly shoved her arm through the door and unlocked it, accidently cutting her arm on the jagged glass. She hurried over to the mannequin and skimmed the walls beside it, looking for the costume and spotted it in between a jester's outfit and what looked like a Queen of Hearts costume. She yanked it off the wall carelessly, dragging some of the other costumes down with it and ran back towards the door, reaching for the handle. She stopped. She turned her attention towards the register.
"Why not?" she asked herself.
She picked up the register and slammed it on the ground. The drawer opened and fell out. Harleen stuffed as much money as she could into her purse. She looked at the floor and noticed a twenty laying out. With a smile she picked it up and grabbed a sharpie from the counter and wrote:
Thanks for everything.
Harleen grinned wide and evilly and placed the twenty on the counter then rushed to her car. She could hear the sirens a few blocks away as she drove off. She laughed. That was more like Gotham. Sirens and store alarms.
She pulled up to Arkham and dug around in the back seat for her costume. She pulled it out and took a quick glance at it. With a smile and a little chuckle she pulled it out of it's package. Certainly the Joker would get a laugh out of her costume, she thought.
It was a little loose on her. But Harleen had to admit, black and red certainly looked nice on her. She tucked her hair up and added the jester hat to her head. With a quick glance in her rearview mirror she decided she was ready. Grabbing her gun, she exited her car and strode into the building.
The guard in the lobby area stopped her. "Excuse me miss, visiting hours are- Oh. Dr. Quinzel. Did you forget something? What's with the getup?" He asked her dumbly.
"Actually yes. I left something upstairs."
"You couldn't wait to get it till morning?"
"No. It's very important to me. I'm afraid I can't do without it."
"Alright, well hurry up."
"I won't be long." She told him, heading for the elevators.
"Hey Harleen!" The guard called out "Were you at a costume party or something? It's no where near Halloween."
"Don't ask." She answered, trying her best to sound drained.
The corridor was dark. Harleen fidgeted with the gun in her hands as she made her way to cell A. She was nervous. She hadn't exactly formed a plan. She knew there would be at least one man guarding that cell. Possibly two. Should she shoot them? Kill them? Maybe she could just wing it, that seemed to be working for her so far.
As she neared cell A she could see that there was clearly one guard. Maybe this wouldn't be as tough as she thought. She slowly and quietly approached him, aiming her gun. As she stepped out of the shadows she softly spoke.
"Don't move." She told him.
"Dr. Quinzel?"
"Just be quiet and do what I tell you. Put your gun on the floor."
"What are you doing?"
"Don't ask questions. I need you to open the door. Unlock it." She said through her teeth, stepping towards him and pointing the gun higher.
The guard reached slowly for his gun and set it on the floor. Then he grabbed the keys and opened the cell. Harleen walked towards the guard.
"Give me those keys."
The guard handed her the keys. She stepped behind him and held the gun to his back.
"Now walk." She directed him into the cell.
The Joker looked up from the cot he was laying on in the corner.
"How can I be of assistance?" He asked the guard.
Harleen pushed the guard forward out of her way.
"Hey Puddin'." She grinned.
"Well, nice to see you Harley. I take it this isn't another therapy session."
"I'm taking you up on your offer."
The Joker hopped out of bed and strolled slowly towards Harley.
"I knew you'd come through for me." He grinned wide. "That's what real pals do."