A/N: Thank you so much to Jokerluv for reviewing my story, it really means a lot. I would like some more reviews though if you want me to continue with this. I don't have a lot of confidence as a writer and am not sure if I'm on the right track with this. Any constructive pointers you want to share with me would be really welcome!

Chapter Three

The Joker opened his eyes and found he was alone in the room. Where was the pretty young doctor who was determined to cure him? He studied the handcuffs that were keeping him tied to the bed and smiled, it would take him less than 30 seconds to be out of them and then he would be free. Something about the doctor had caught his attention though, it wasn't just that she was attractive, although she certainly was, it was more her attitude towards him. She seemed determined to save him only to deliver him into the hands of the law, however she hadn't told the guard about their little conversation. Maybe she was corruptible after all, he smiled to himself, maybe he would stick around a while longer, it was certainly not unpleasant having her clean his wounds her soft little fingers felt good against his skin, it had been years since anyone had touched him voluntarily without wanting to cause pain. Also it would be fun to strip back her convictions about right and wrong and introduce a little chaos into her life. The Joker laughed quietly to himself she would be his little project; he wondered how long it would take for her to fall apart.

Harleen walked back into the room carrying a pile of clothing and towels and found him lying on his bed laughing to himself, he seemed in remarkably good humour.

"You know it's a sign of madness laughing to yourself" she smiled as she put the clothes down on the table.

"I'm not mad doc, just ahead of the curve" he looked at the pile on the table. "What's that?"

"I thought you might want to have a wash and get out of those filthy clothes, I can send them to be cleaned. I'm sure you would feel better."

"I feel just fine at the moment thank you but I wouldn't say no to a sponge bath from my beautiful doctor." He winked at her noticing her blush.

"I don't think you really need me to do it for you, I'll put some waterproof dressings on for you and you should be fine."

"But it would be soooo much fun if you did it."

Ignoring him she took some waterproof bandages out of a drawer, "I'll put these on and then you can have a shower."

She checked the wounds; they appeared to be healing nicely. Once the new dressings were on she turned to face him. "I'll call the guard and he will have to be in the bathroom with you I'm afraid."

The Joker giggled "Don't you trusssst me Harley?"

"Not as far as I could throw you," she said grimly.

When the Joker emerged from his shower he looked very different in the hospital scrubs he had been given to wear. His makeup was badly smeared and most of the white had come off. The guard had his blood stained clothing in a bag ready for the hospital laundry to deal with. He looked a little more normal without the outlandish purple suit but he exuded an aura of strength and charisma, which no change of clothing could cover up.

The guard nodded to Harleen and left the room after re-cuffing the Joker to his bed. She re-checked his dressings, they appeared fine, the stitches were holding well and even the vicious wound on his stomach appeared to be clean and free from infection.

He appeared to be asleep as soon as he was back on the bed, the exertion of walking and standing for the longest period of time since he had been admitted must have taken it out of him. He must still be in a lot of pain and yet he was still refusing the medication to relieve it. She looked down at him, he was only ever still in his sleep, the rest of the time he was always fidgeting, licking his scars and humming to himself. He was like a child in many ways she thought as she watched him sleep, a demonic child that if entertained was charming and appealing but if angered or bored would destroy anything and everything just for it's own amusement. She sighed; what would become of him when he went to trial? If convicted he would face the death penalty or he would be shut away in an asylum for the rest of his life to be poked at by doctors trying to discover the secrets of his mind. Either way it would be like trying to contain an erupting volcano, he would fight savagely for his freedom and the thought of him being locked up was repugnant to her. She started, where had that thought come from? He was a cruel man, he delighted in hurting people and causing chaos to the city, he deserved to be punished, and yet…. She looked at his sleeping face, he was so fascinating and charismatic like a wild animal he should never be caged. She shook her head "get a grip Harleen" she thought, "I need to stop thinking like that, he is a murderer and he is going to prison, my job is just to get him fit enough to be there."

She walked over to the table and picked up a towel and her suitcase. "Might grab a shower myself while he is asleep" she thought going into the adjoining bathroom. The hot steamy water felt good after spending nearly 48 hours in the same clothes it was refreshing to wash some of the hospital grime from her skin. The bathroom quickly filled with steam, there were no windows and the ancient extractor wheezed ineffectually against the heat of the water. She washed slowly luxuriating in the jets not relishing going back to her patient in the next room. The way she had started to feel in his presence made her feel uncomfortable and confused. When she had agreed to look after him, everything had been so clear-cut. He was a criminal who had been beaten up, she was a doctor, it was her duty to treat him. Yet the more time she spent with him, the more she could feel herself starting to think he should not be locked up. The thought of him facing the death penalty horrified her. She could not bear the thought of some nameless prison official taking his life; he was so wild and untamed. Not that she agreed in any way with the crimes he committed, but still he didn't deserve that. Putting him away in Arkham was also a disturbing thought. He would have a slow tortuous existence of boredom and isolation in there, it would almost be worse than death. She sighed, she had to remember who he was and what he had done, given the chance she knew he would kill her and everyone else in the hospital if it meant his freedom, it wouldn't do to forget that and get swept away by some romantic notion that he could be saved. She snorted he needed more than the love of a good woman to change him, and who on earth would want that job?

The Joker heard the water running in the bathroom next door. He smiled widely and unpicked his handcuffs. He knew she had been watching him, she thought he had been asleep. He chuckled to himself; he knew her attitude to him had changed, she was starting to feel more sympathetic, starting to forget what he was. His little project was going on very nicely. He giggled as he made his way towards the bathroom; time to see how changed her emotions really were.

Harleen was still washing the soap from her body when she sensed someone behind her. She froze as a voice said "I think I like you better without that white coat, much as it suits yooou"

"H how did you get in here" she stammered in shock not trusting herself to turn around.

"I used the door like everyone else, maybe you should have locked it if you didn't want company"

His voice was coming closer and she could feel the warmth of his body against her back.

"I suggest you go back to your bed and I won't mention this to Gordon" her voice sounded stronger than she felt, her legs were trembling slightly despite the hot water.

"But I like it soooo much better here, I'll go back if you come with me"

Suddenly his arms gripped her harshly round the waist, his fingers biting into the tender flesh. She gasped as he turned her to face him; he stroked her cheek, his face inches from hers. His eyes were black and unreadable but they drew her in till she felt she was drowning in their depths. Suddenly she was aware that he had a knife, a small cruel looking blade that curved like a claw and flashed silver as he brought it to her face.

"You really are beautifuuuulll," he drawled stroking the knife along her cheekbone. She shivered as the cool blade touched her skin but was it with fear or something else? She felt warmth spreading through her belly and her knees were shaking, as he pressed closer. He was soaked now the water pouring over them both as he pressed her into the wall. The blade moved down to her throat and she felt the sharp metal graze her skin. She whimpered as a tiny drop of blood ran down her neck. The Joker bent closer and licked her where the knife had cut. Her eyes closed at the touch of his tongue and her head lent back against the wall. She was torn between pure terror that he would just slit her throat there and then and the delicious feeling of his body pressed into hers. There was something about this man that was undeniably attractive and all the feelings that she had been trying to suppress came bubbling to the surface. His grip shifted to her upper arms, he held her tight and she knew she would be bruised.

"Why are you doing this?" she whispered

"Because you're not stopping me" he smiled cruelly at her leaning closer again he brushed her lips with his knife and felt her tremble.

"I don't think you are as pure as you make out doc, you haven't screamed for the guard, you haven't tried to fight me and I knooow you're more than capable of that. Do you really think you can still hand me over to Gordon and just walk away?"

"It doesn't look as if I'll be handing you over to anyone, you can obviously get yourself free, what's stopping you from killing me and escaping right now?" She regretted those words as soon as she had spoken them. "Why the hell did I remind him he could just kill me and leave!" she thought.

The Joker chuckled "I'm having way too much fuuun to just kill you doc, it's much more interesting watching you fall from grace. Maybe I'll stick around and see if you really are in-cur-uptable."

Suddenly he brushed a kiss to her lips where the knife had been moments before, she froze in shock as she felt his lips moving on hers. A wave of desire washed over her; despite her fear of him she could no longer deny that she was very attracted to him. She kissed him back and was surprised to hear him moan softly in return. How long had it been since anyone had shown him any kind of affection or love? All at once it was over and he drew back smiling that wicked knowing smile.

"Better not be too much longer doc, soon be time for the changing of the guards" he winked at her and disappeared back into the steam.

Slowly she sank to the floor as the shock of what had just happened washed over her. She looked at her arms, they were bruised where he had gripped her, a stinging at her throat reminded her that she had a cut there from his knife. She felt her lips; they were slightly swollen from his kisses. "What have I done?" she thought in despair.

She got dressed slowly, dreading having to go back into the room and face him, if he was even there, he could have escaped she knew he was more than capable of killing anyone who got in his way. The guards were due to be changing shift, it would be the perfect opportunity. Cautiously she came out of the bathroom. The blinds were drawn blocking out the sunlight so the room was dim. Everything was ominously quiet. "He's gone," she thought with a mixture of fear and disappointment. She walked towards the bed and then she could see him, he was still there and seemed to be sound asleep! He had changed into some dry scrubs and cuffed himself back to the bed. If she hadn't spotted the pile of wet clothing on the floor she would have sworn she had dreamt the whole thing.

There was a knock on the door and the new guard came in to check on her. He looked at the sleeping Joker with distaste.

"He given you any trouble ma'am?"

"No officer, no trouble at all."

"Well I'll be outside if he does, just yell and I'll be right in."

"I'm sure I'll be fine officer there wont be any problem I assure you, everything has been ok so far."

"I heard some nurse tried to finish him off the other day, shame he got caught. No one would shed any tears for that son of a bitch. Well, I'll leave you to it ma'am, you know where I am if you need me."

"Thanks"

He left the room and silence descended once more. The Joker lay still his breathing slow and steady; she couldn't tell if he was asleep or not. He heard her sigh and sit down on the chair beside his bed; he smiled as he heard her making herself comfortable. He reflected on the afternoon's fun, she had reacted much better than he could have anticipated; his little project was coming along nicely. He had planted the seeds of doubt in her mind and she once again hadn't said anything to the guard. He smirked, of course if she had she would have had to reveal exactly what had happened, questions would certainly be asked about her conduct and suspicions would be raised about their relationship which would certainly not do her career any favours. He remembered her panic as she realised he was free and in the shower with her. Watching her struggle with her feelings had been delicious. He had been surprised when she had kissed him back, it took a lot to surprise him, but this young doctor certainly did. She had been warm and soft and she had wanted him, the Joker smiled again, this game really was much better than he had expected. He would stick around just long enough to see the last of her morals and her sense of justice crumble and then he would be free to bring chaos and anarchy to the streets of Gotham once again.

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