As Jason snuck through the door to his own apartment, he saw Harleen Quinzel had fallen asleep in front of the T.V. Walking quietly over to her side, he examined her. She had taken a pair of his sweat pants and an old t shirt and thrown them on. He had to admit, she looked pretty good in his clothes. Unfortunately he had to wake her up from her nap.

" Harley," He whispered, pushing her hair back away from her forhead, " I brought food.."

She slowly stirred, blurry eyes looking up at him.. " You keep treating a girl like this and she is gonna get some ideas."

"You keep wearing my t shirts and I am gonna get some ideas," He replied, winking at her before lifting up a bag of takeout boxes.

Blushing, she asked " So what did you get me?"

" I figured everyone likes good plate of steak and potatoes," he smirked, seeing her blush creep along her face as she tried to hide it with her question." I was not sure about the vergetables though."

" That is perfectly ok kid, " she replied, " I like just about anything as long as long as it is served with dessert.'

Smiling he said, " Well lucky you, because I brought cheesecakes too.'

A huge grin lit her face and she leaned forward, sitting criss cross in his bed." MY FAVORITE!" She yelled.

" I like a woman who can eat", he said, sitting in the chair next to her, handing her the box with the cheesecake in it first with a fork.

" Hey now, don't you get any ideas just because I am wearing your t shirt and laying in your bed."

" Never", he returned.

Smiling as she opened the box she said " dessert before dinner huh? Didn't your parents ever tell you that can ruin your appeite? Don't have to woory about me though. Nothing can ruin mine."

With that the conversation stopped, as they scrambled to eat their food like it was a mission. He finished first, watching her swap from shoveling it in to savoring every few bites. The content smile on her face mixed with the steak sauce on her chin made him chuckle, until she sent him a glare.

" Just don't get any on my shirt, " he said, winking at her before going over to the desk. Pressing a button under the bottom, a secret drawer slipped out. Inside were his armor, as well as his helmet and knee pads. strapping on the knee pads, he pulled the balistic vest out and slipped it on over his tank top. He walked back over to Harleen and sat on the bed beside her, holding his helmet. He noticed her forhead crease as she looked at the red bat symbol across the siilver chestplate.

" So, did the B-man put you up to this?", she asked.

" No Harley", he sighed looking into her questioning blue eyes. " I brought you to my apartment last night without telling him. I also did not tell him you were here when i visited him today. He has no idea that you are here. "

She looked at him in alarm, " Why did you bring me here then? He is going to be so angry with you, and he is really scary when he is angry. "

He looked at her with sadness in his eyes. " The reason i brought you here, and saved you from bleeding out in that alley, is that you tried to do the same for me once. When the joker was beating me with his crowbar, torturing me, you tried to stop him. I remember at first you did not want to watch him beat me down. You hid in the other room. Then i saw you come out that door, tears falling from your eyes as you begged him to stop. I watched him turn around and hit you with that crowbar, covered in my blood, and curse at you, belittle you. He went to hit you again with it, so I stood up, knowing he would kill you as well if i did not destract him. I attacked him, and as weak as I WAS, it was enough to make him let you escape. ", his eyes filled with pain as the memories came back to him, " He killed me that night. But you lived. Seeing you in the alley the other night, I knew i could not leave you to die any more than you left me. I am so tired of seeing him hurt you. It makes me sick. I have been on the recieving end of his anger and twisted punishment. You are a sweet smart woman, who, in a moment of loneliness, allowed a madman to take your feelings and bend your reality, making you fall in love with him and using that love to lead you into crime, and to throw away a promising career and your own self control. I used to hate you, but after my memories came back in full, and i saw you lying in a pool of blood, I only wanted to save you."

Hearing a sniffle, he looked over at her and saw tears dripping down her face as she stared away from him in shame. While he wanted to comfort her yet again, he felt that physical comfort would make her uncomfortable.

" You think to highly of me kid, " She whspered, " I aint good. Not anymore. I have done such terrible things. But i can't believe you remember that. I can't believe you tried to save me. I remember getting hit. I remember him standing over me about to hit me again. But then he turned back to you. I didnt know that you had grabbes his attention. I just though he loved me too much to hurt me again. Why did you do it?"

"Isn't that what heroes are supposed to do?" He replied.

"So what now?" she asked him.

"What do you mean?", he asked, " As in what do we do now that your feeling better? ". He really had not though this out that far.

Seeing his contemplative face she realized the same thing. " This was your plan silly", she sniffled out, " Did you really not think it out at all?"

Laughing he replied " Well I know two things. I refuse to let Batman put you in Arkham again. And i also refuse to let you go back to or get taken by the Joker. You can stay here as long as you like. There is a place next door you could get a job under the tables. Its a kitchen that needs a prep cook, basic hearty food. In fact it is the same place i got those steaks. If you do stay though you will need new clothes and some hair dye. You can go wherever else you like but i cannot guarantee your safety anywhere but close to home."

She blushed as she looked into his eyes. She had never really had someone besides her dad offer to protect her. His intense eyes looked into hers waiting for her response. On one hand it would be nice to get a job and stay in the city she loved so much. She was so tired of the violent life she had been leading. On the other hand she could just skip town and leave the Joker and her past in Gotham.

" Can I have tonight to think about it?" She asked Jason.

" Of course", he replied.

Looking at the clock he stood up. " I have to get going. Batman is expecting me tonight. We are hunting down the Joker."

"Wait!", she exclaimed before he walked out the door.

He turned back., " Wassup Harley?"

"What's your name anyway?", she asked.

" Red Hood not enough for you?" he winked at her.

" Not if you don't wear it around me." she replied with an eyebrow raised.

" Jason Todd", he said, turning around and putting on the helmet.

" Harleen", she said.

Chuckling, the last thing he said before closing the door behind him was " I know. But Harley is so much better.