Chapter 3

A/N: Thanks to everyone who's been so supportive. Sorry I've neglected this story, I've been really stressed out lately but I'll try my best to date as much as possible.

Hungry, tired and messed up. As far as my personal needs where going, I was failing miserably. Knowing ahead I didn't have any food in my cupboards, I got a take away and devoured it in seconds. It was only 3:30 and I made my way up to my bedroom, finally in a long while had a peaceful sleep.

I raised my head, fully rested and paced over to my bathroom. Looking at my clock, my sleeping pattern completely altered. It was 2 in the morning! After brushing my hair and teeth, I recognised the figure in the mirror once again and made my way downstairs. I had a spare 4 hours to kill. With my hyped up energy, I decided now of all times to move the cracked mirror in the lounge.

Even though I was moving furniture around the house, it was the first time I had a break. I didn't expect the mirror to be so heavy, needing a few breaks in between I successfully moved it outside and left it. Thieves and thugs were welcome to take it, the further away I was from the mirror the happier I'd be. I observed the streets through my tainted windows to see; empty packets rolling in the wind.

Going through the options I had I decided to finally go shopping for essentials. Sitting and sipping my coffee in my dressing gown, I stood up skipped up the stairs cheerfully. I scanned through my clothes and chose shabby looking jeans and t-shirt. I hopped across my bedroom while attempting to put my shoe on successfully. Before heading down the stairs once again I double checked my mirror and fixed a fly away hair.

Searching for my handbag the sound of my doorbell stopped my actions as I glanced out the window. It was Jamie, looking stressed like he did before he stormed off. I approached the door cautiously, seeing his silhouette uneased me. Opening the door I half expected him to lunge at me and beg me not to go to work. But, he simply smiled and handed me bags full of milk, eggs and so on.

"How did you-" I began

"Looking at the state of you yesterday, the chances of you remembering groceries were very unlikely" he said bluntly with a smile of pure gold.

Giggling softly I let Jamie in and stared in awe. 'He's had less sleep than me but he looks completely the same!' I thought in the corner of my mind as I ran him glass of lime-scaled water.

When I handed him the glass he his his disgust by chuckling awkwardly and placing the glass aside.

"Sorry, If I knew you were coming I would've done something about that" I said apologetically.

"Don't worry about it, the main reason why I'm here is about The Joker" he said sternly.

"Right" I replied softly, hiding the fact that I hadn't heard of the joker before.

"No offence, but I don't think your ready to go to that big of a scale, without preparation"

I wasn't going to let an opportunity like this pass, If I had to fight for this then I would. Though, it did make sense I don't know anything about this man, it's my second day of work and already I'm being thrown In the deep end.

I opened my mouth and protested;

"I didn't have any experience with my last patient and in one session I got him to spill everything." Leaning forward, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.

"I know, but the Joker's different. He's not a pet killer, he's a homicidal maniac who'll break you like a twig." He returned bluntly. when I realised the tension, I eased back down into the chair and began chewing my lip in surrender.

"But, it's not my authority to dismiss you off this case..." And he stood up and headed to the door as I followed.

"One wrong move and I will force you to resign the assignment" he finished darkly as he leaned down and pecked my cheek

Glancing at the clock anxiously, I only had an hour before meeting this mystery. But the delay of the arrival of my taxi was far more important. He was late, I assumed it was a he. Clutching on to my coat, the sound of a horn brought me back to my conscience as I leaped out the door.

Proving my assumption wrong in the cab sat a scruffy looking woman, shooting daggers at me with her eyes.

I climbed in and told her the address once again. Experiencing the journey the second time was slightly more comforting and gained the confidence to ask about the hospital.

"Oh that, that happened not so long ago. It was huge riot, all thanks to a freak so called 'The Joker" Hearing those words I froze.

'He did this?' My thoughts were invading my head as I started to shake uncontrollably. Maybe this was far bigger than I ever imagined.

Then suddenly I remembered hearing it on the news. I hardly ever pay attention to the news, but that one time, the headline intrigued me.

Not knowing I would be assessed on him, I didn't note anything down about him, I can't even remember what he looked like or who he was.

"You OK, miss?" The driver asked cocking her head in the view of the mirror.

"Yeah, just a bit nervous" I said, I wouldn't be lying if I said I was reassuring myself as we continued our journey to Arkham.

As I arrived the atmosphere was different. It was sunny for a start, sunshine didn't suit a place so dark like this. But the shrivelled, crushed flowers were replaced with blossoming florals that underlined the asylum beautifully.

I walked up to the building, wearing a skirt to my knees with a grey striped shirt. Scratching my head in irritation, I had told myself before not to overdue it on the conditioner, but I excused myself due to other things occurring to my eventful life.

Opening the doors gradually, I peaked my nose inside to be greeted by the sound of laughter. But joyful laughter, it had a young essence to it. I was correct, the young laughter was harmonised with a chuckle I knew far too well. It was Jamie, does he ever sleep?

"Harley! I'd like you to meet someone very special to me" he began, then continued enabling me to intervene;

"My son, Elliot" he said holding up 5/6 year old boy with features much like his father. A small part of me died down when I heard he had a son, that also meant he could have a wife.

I hoped he was a loner like me, that he was troubled with the same problems. How naive of me, I shook, I've known this man a day and a half and I'm already imaging playing happy families with him.

The boys grasp woke me as I stared in to his two beady eyes. He resembled much of his father when he smiled. 'Pure gold' I sighed softly.

"Excuse me?" Jamie noticing my remark.

Shaking him off I replied;

"Never mind" as I smiled weakly.

Ten minutes before, I stomached returning to the staff room and made myself a cup of coffee to regain my senses before the big event. The room was bare, no one apart from me was there.

Losing myself in my own thoughts once again, I pepped myself that I needed to be strong for whoever this 'Joker' was. I wasn't going to be fooled or mind-fucked by some nutso. I needed to prove to myself, and to everyone else that I was capable of this.

"Hey Quinn!" I turned round to see who owned that voice, it was the two men from the previous night. Two days in and already have a nickname... great! I sighed sarcastically.

I could hardly remember what the commission was about, until I saw an image of me, kicking the door open with brutal force and scaring the hell out of them. I half forgave them. I think my reaction was far worse than whatever they were talking about.

"We heard your going in with the Joker today. Good luck, he's a toughie. We've all had chunk out of him... Literally" as they chuckled an d nudged each other out the room.

Nothing seemed to ease me anymore. I just wanted to go in and get it over with..

5 minutes left.

Looking at the clock, I knew I would be a good hour with him. I waited in the staff room waiting for someone to collect me. Then Dr. Mackey himself came through the door. My breath hitched as he lead me down the corridor that I travelled that very same night before. Panic arose in my throat as is suddenly realised what cell I was going. The crazy dude who called me a puppy.

He was the Joker? I didn't have time to question myself as two guards stepped behind me as we approached the door.

"Remember Quinn, this session you'll have guards but in future you'll be alone. But there's always a panic button placed underneath the table." He said and I scoffed he's chained up he can't get me... Can he?

Mackey opened the door and the smell of sweat reached my nose. I repelled backwards into the square shaped guard in disgust as I stepped inside.

The room was slightly darker than the others. It wasn't pitch black, but it wasn't the Arkham white I was used to. Trailing my eyes around the room, they froze as I caught my attention to the man, head down on the table that I was supposed to join.

Going through various options in my mind. I didn't decide to go for the one that involved me screaming my lungs out for my deceased mother. I simply smiled optimistically and said.

"Hello I'm Doctor Harleen Quinzel and I'm your psychiatrist-"

"For now" he retorted in the desk refusing to raise his head.

Ignoring that to the best of my ability I asked him to raise his head for me. And to much of a surprise, he obliged and raised.

I shivered right down to my core once I saw his scar what looked like a smile. Not wanting to be caught staring, I glanced back into his exaughsted brown eyes as realisation changed his expression.

"So your a shrink too then. Well, well, well isn't that a shame. All that beauty wasted". He said shrivelling his face.

Taken back by his comment, I shrugged it away and changed the subject.

"I would like to ask you a few questions." Usually I'd just asked, but I didn't like this man so hospitality wasn't going near him.

"I haven't seen you trailing along here before. Nothing smells or sounds better than fresh meat-tuh" I looked at him blankly. But inside I was disgusted to my core.

I noticed his behaviour towards me was very vulgar and childish. I wanted to punch the freak, in his jagged gob. But for the moment, ignoring the remarks was my best option.

"Why did you decide to call yourself 'The Joker'" using bunny hands, I thought using my sense of humour would appeal to him.

"You wouldn't what to know about that ol' story" his real smile dropping, disinterested in his own history.

"Yes I do, that's kinda what I'm here for" I replied sarcastically. I've always been quite blunt since I can remember, I'd never believed in sugar-coating the harsh truth.

He opened his mouth once more hazily, scanning the room with his restless eyes.

"In your own time" I grinned smugly, I wondered pressuring him would open him up.

"Alright!...alright." He replied agitated holding his chuffed hands up.

"Ya see when I was a l'il kid I went to school, like most kids I would imagine. Around my teens 15 or 16 my hormones really KiCkEd in. Girls weren't gross anymore, they were like... They were like sports cars. Something I always wanted, but never could have. But unlike cars they would tease, bully and abuse me. Dealing with the stress with my family made me even more awkward and shy. Which you could imagine was a nightmare to get girls. I despised them all, them all apart from one... Miss Gray, my English teacher. And before you say, I was well aware of the trouble of teachers and pupils having secret relationships and she didn't sexual assault me, I know how all you white jacket, degree in believing that insanity leads from fucked up childhoods, think. Anyway Miss Gray was gOOrgus, blond hair like yours, but uh she was a natural."

I flinched slightly I let it pass for this time it was exactly what he was aiming for. For me to lose my rag so he couldn't continue.

"Always happy, you never saw her frowning. I always knew she saw me differently to the others, after giving me special treatment, she gave me 'real' special treatment. Out of school I would take her out on dates but people, low life people would mistake her for my mother or older sister, as if I couldn't get a bitch like that on my own! It raged me! People would always laugh and point as if it were some kind of joke to them. So I would show them one day, something that they would really laugh at.

It was summer I'm sure of it and the circus was in town. I decided to take my meat out for another date. And just as luck would have it everyone who ever mocked me was there. Entering the tent, toxic whispers began about me and Gray. Saying that it was sick of her, using me so she could get her pedophilloic hands all over me. She usually just let it fly over her head, but this time it cracked her. Tears running down her face she said she couldn't take it anymore! Selfish bitch! She thought she had it hard, then there was me looking like this, and she had the nerve to cry. The thing was when she got home she could forget everything about them, but with me the voices never left. So I got up on the stage, where the clowns stood shocked and I brought out my fathers fishing rod and pierced their checks and thread them on the line like a necklace. Everyone else left apart from her she just sat there with saliva running down her chin. Not as gOOrgus I had once claimed. I pranced up to her and said "what's wrong miss not a fan of seafood?" And with that I pulled her head polar opposite from her body and cradled her corpse promising I won't let anyone humiliate me like that again."

After finishing I sat there, jaw dropped, eyes bulged and sick to my stomach I couldn't bare another twitch from him. I stood up and said not looking at him in the eye.

"That would be all, I'll see you next time"

"But don't you want to know how I got these scars?" He started howling with laughter.

"That's enough story time for today" tugging the handle frantically with his spine chilling laughter echoing in the walls of my head.

"Quinn, you alright?" One of the guards asked.

"I'm fine" I said running away from that hell hole, back in the staff room as I felt my head sway back and forth. I fell forward on my front with my head swimming.

Then everything went dark.

A/N: once again sorry for the 3+ month delay, I've had a lot of trouble so I hadn't had much chance. The story with the fishing rod was inspired from when I was a little girl. My check got pierced by a fishing hook, not by the Joker though. I was swimming in a lake and I didn't see it.

I was wondering If I'm being too graphic in the story etc. let me know if I am I can either tone it down on the description or turn the ratings up its your choice.

Thanks and sorry again.