Hope groaned as she woke up. Her head was trying to kill her. She'd drank way too much last night.
Last night...oh good lord, Bruce. Hope sat up, a little too quickly. Her head started spinning, and pounding. She groaned again, putting her hand to her head. She opened her eyes, and froze. She wasn't at home. What had happened last night? She looked around, realising that she wasn't in just any room at Wayne manor, but in Bruce's bedroom.
Had she? She realised that she was still fully clothed. She noticed that there was a piece of paper laying on the pillow next to her. She picked it up, and read it.
Hope-
I'm Sorry for not being here, when you woke up, I had business to attend to. I should return soon. There are clean clothes for you to wear, and feel free to use the shower. I'll be back as soon as I can.
-Bruce-
Hope smiled at the note. She set it down on the bedside table. She got out of bed, and found the robe, and clothes that he wrote about. She ran her finger tips over the robe. It was silk. She bit her lip, and exhaled loudly.
She frowned as she remembered what had happened the day before, to make her go out for drinks with Bruce, in the first place. Joker. Now, she felt like she needed a shower.
Before that, she had a phone call to make. She found her clutch, and pulled her cell phone out. She wrote a quick email, to her boss, explaining that she needed more time off, and that she put in a transfer for Joker. She also left a message on his voicemail. She hung up, and set the phone on the table. She ran a hand through her hair, grabbed the robe, and went to get in the shower.
She got in, and quickly washed. She washed her hair, and scrubbed what make up was left, off. She didn't get out once she was done though. She closed her eyes, and let the water run over her. She let herself acknowledge that she felt conflicted. What Joker had done to her, had made her skin crawl, but also, it had felt...good. Too good. It wasn't supposed to feel that good, with him. He was a patient for crying out loud!
She bit her lip, and exhaled loudly. She decided that it was time to get out. She turned the water off, and got out. She dried off, and slid into the silk robe.
She went over to a window, as she dried her hair, and looked out at the darkened landscape. It wasn't light out yet. She was preoccupied, with her thoughts, and didn't hear anyone enter the room.
She closed her eyes, and smiled when she felt Bruce's arms circle her waist. She leaned into him, and he put his chin on her shoulder.
"What time do you have to be at Arkham?" Bruce asked.
She bit her lip, as Bruce kissed her neck.
"Actually, I realised that I wasn't quite ready to return to Arkham." She told him.
She turned to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Really?" He asked.
She nodded.
"I've taken a couple more days. I'm taking yours, and Batman's, advice, and resting. So, the question is, would you like to join me?" She asked.
He smiled down at her. He leaned down, and pressed his lips to hers.
"I would love to." He told her.
She laughed.
"Good. So, is your business all taken care of, or should I expect you to be called away?" She asked.
He gave a laugh, and caressed her cheek with his thumb.
"I'm all yours." He whispered.
He kissed her again.
"I'm holding you to that." She told him.
"Let's get you back to bed, and relax." He told her.
He took her hand in his, and led her over to the bed. They crawled into bed, and got comfortable. She laid her head on his chest, and listened to his heart beat. He played wit her hair, and she closed her eyes, enjoying it immensely. She sighed happily.
"Try to get some more sleep. I'll be right here, I'm not going anywhere." He whispered.
X*X*X
Hope returned after a week. Bruce had helped tremendously. Bruce tried to be there with her, but sometimes, something would come up. He would apologise, she told him that she understood. While Bruce was gone, Alfred kept her company.
When she did return, Oswald Cobblepot was very happy. He was happy, not only because she had returned, but because Joker was no longer her patient. Cobblepot enjoyed holding it over Joker's head that he was her patient still, unlike the Joker. Apparently, Joker was not very happy about it. She didn't like the sound of that.
At the end of the day, she got a visit from a fellow doctor. Dr. Wyke, Joker's new therapist. This couldn't be good. Dr. Wyke sat across from her, at her desk.
"Hope, Joker has said some...interesting things, since coming into my care. I'm worried." He told her.
She frowned.
"Worried? About what?" She asked.
"You. Your safety." He told her.
She raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"What's going on?" She asked.
"Joker has found a new obsession. Batman has gone to the background. All he talks about, all he wants to talk about, is you." He told her.
"I'm sorry, but I don't understand." She said.
"You've become Joker's new obsession. He's not very happy that he was transferred to me. He's become more unstable with every passing day. I'm worried that he is going to do something to you, with how he's becoming. I feel like he's becoming slightly more unhinged by the day, with how he talks about you." He said.
"Thank you for your concern, but I'll be fine." She said.
Dr. Wyke shook his head.
"I don't think you understand the severity of this. Joker is dangerous." He told her.
"I know he is, but I will be fine. When Harley had kidnapped me, Joker was the one that saved me." She said.
"He's been saying very disturbing things." He told her.
"Like what?" She asked.
Dr. Wyke exhaled loudly.
"He wants you back, and he will get you back. This time Batman won't be able to find you, once he gets his hands on you. You won't ever leave him again." Wyke said.
Hope frowned.
"How is the security around Joker?" She asked.
"He is secure." Wyke said.
She gave a sigh.
"Then I'll be fine. As long as Joker is in here, surrounded by security, then he can't get to me. If he breaks out, then I'll start to worry. Until then, I'm fine." She said.
Wyke studied her for a moment, then shook his head.
"Okay, just be careful, please." Wyke told her.
She gave a nod.
"Thank you for your concern." Hope told him.
Wyke left her. She sat at her desk, thinking of what she'd just been told. Joker was a very dangerous person, and if he was coming for her, then she needed to be prepared, for anything. How though? She bit her lip. She picked up the phone, and dialed a number.
"Hello."
"Hey, I'm almost done here. Can I stop by, or do you have to work?" She asked.
"I would love to see you. I'm at Wayne Tower right now, but you are more than welcome to wait for me at the manor. I'll be there as soon as I can." Bruce told her.
She bit her lip.
"Sure. Okay, I'll see you then." She said.
"Is everything okay, Hope?" Bruce asked.
She pinched the bridge of her nose, exhaling loudly.
"Hope?" Bruce asked.
"I don't know." She muttered.
"What happened?" Bruce asked.
She groaned.
"I just got done with a meeting, with Dr. Wyke. Dr. Wyke is worried that the Joker will do something to me. Joker is upset that I transferred him to another therapist." Hope said.
"I'm coming to pick you up." Bruce said.
She shook her head.
"Bruce, you can't just drop what you're doing, for work, and come get me! I'm fine, I swear!" She said.
"At least, let Alfred pick you up, and bring you to the manor." He told her.
She sighed.
"Fine. My car should be fine for one night." She said.
"Good. I'll call Alfred, and I'll see you shortly." Bruce said.
"Bye Bruce." Hope said.
She hung up. She got her paperwork together, and she set up her agenda for the next day. She gathered her things, and then left.
Alfred was waiting for her, when she got outside. She smiled at him, as he opened the door for her.
"Mistress Hope, it's great to see you again. Master Bruce has asked for me to pick you up." Alfred said.
"Yes, he's very worried about me. I am meeting Bruce at the manor." She said.
"Wonderful." Alfred said.
Hope laughed, then got into the car. Alfred got behind the wheel, and headed for the manor.
X*X*X
Hope was lost in thought, about Joker. How would she protect herself, if Joker broke free? Maybe she should learn how to protect herself.
She felt arms go around her. She turned, and smiled at Bruce.
"What's wrong Hope?" Bruce asked.
She sighed, shaking her head.
"Hope, talk to me, please." Bruce said.
"I'm not stupid, I know just how dangerous Joker is. I don't think that he'd do anything to me, but I wouldn't put it past him. I need to be prepared if Joker comes for mem. Will you help me with something?" She asked.
"Of course, what is it?" Bruce asked.
"I need you to contact Batman for me." She said.
"What?" He said.
"You are friends with Batman, and the only person that I know that can find him. Will you let him know that I need to speak with him?" She said.
"About what? Does this have anything to do with what you learned?" Bruce asked.
She bit her lip.
"I need to be prepared, just in case Joker decides to try something." She told him.
Bruce studied her for a moment.
"You want Batman to teach you how to fight?" He asked her.
She gave a nod.
"Yeah. So will you ask him to speak with me?" She asked.
He locked eyes with her. He gave a smile.
"I'll see what I can do." He told her.
She smiled.
"Thank you." She said.
She hugged him.
"I've found it very difficult to say no to you." He told her, kissing her temple.
"It's just for precaution, just in case." She said.
He gave a nod.
"I know." He said.
He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her.
"Don't worry, if Batman helps, or not, Joker won't hurt you. I won't let him hurt you." He told her.
She leaned in, and kissed him.
"You're sweet. Thank you so much, for letting me stay here, I feel a little more safe here, than at my place." She said.
He smiled.
"You're welcome here anytime. Actually, it might be a good idea if you stayed for a little while, it's safer here. I know that I would worry less." He said.
She bit her lip. He tucked her hair behind her ear, caressing her cheek.
"I don't know, Bruce." She said.
"Joker is very dangerous, and he doesn't stop until he has what he wants. I need you to be safe. It's safe here. I can have Alfred set up a room for you, if it would make you more comfortable." He told her.
She smiled.
"Okay. After work tomorrow, I'll go home, and grab some stuff." She said.
He grinned.
"Great." He said.