AN: See! Making up for the lack of updates!!

love much, Clairemarie

I scooted into my apartment around 6:45. Thankfully there wasn't much traffic getting home so I could actually get ready for my date like a normal person.

I was in dire need of a shower. I felt like I just had to wash myself from Arkham, especially after talking to The Dick across from Elliot. I couldn't get him out of my brain. The way he made me feel so exposed with his stare, his careless tongue. He made me feel so frustrated and confused at the same time. He was annoying, and wrong, I was NOT coming back to see him. And if he thinks otherwise, he's quite mistaken.

I pulled my long blonde hair out of the tight coiled bun on the back of my head, and let it fall on my back. I trotted into my bathroom to turn on the water in my shower. The steam from the hot water instantaneously filled the little bathroom. It felt great to be back into my little home. It was clearly nothing special, but it was all mine. I shrugged out of my skirt and blouse then stepped into the shower. The hot water trickled on top of my head and down my back. It felt so good, the heat slowly massaging the tight muscles in my neck and upper back.

After finishing up in the shower I walked out into my bedroom. The cold breeze hit me so I tried to find clothes fast. Hugging the towel against myself, I rummaged through my closet. I found a pair of nice black dress pants and a white button up. I shrugged as I looked into the closet again. All of my clothes look exactly the same. Work and play clothes, identical. I shook out of my thoughts with a sigh. Not like I'm trying to impress anyone. Black and white are always nice, for every occasion. I tried to convince myself.

My hair air dried itself into little waves that hung loosely down my back. I applied some mascara, that was all I really used anyway. There was no need to wear any other makeup, not like I had any to apply even if I wanted to. Except for a little red lipstick that sat on my dresser, collecting dust. I eyed the little black container before I walked over to it. I picked up the smooth lipstick and opened it, twisting it so it would show. The bright red lipstick shone out of the little black container. I looked at it for a minute then sighed closing it. Why did I even bother buying it if I'm never going to wear it? Dropping the lipstick back in the same place where it sat earlier I walked into my living room, tying up my hair into a bun as I went.

The clock read 7:30 so I figured if I was going to make the bar in time I better get going. I threw on the same red pumps I wore to work, grabbed my little black bag and walked out of my apartment. I hopped down the stairs quietly trying not to disturb any other the other tenants below me. I made it out my door successfully without waking anyone, and made it down the little stone steps.

The walk to the bar was a bit cold, I wish I had wore a jacket. But instead I just crossed my arms in front of my body and held tight. The clicking of my heals was the only thing I could hear besides the random car horns in the distance. It was oddly silent and deserted on the walk to the bar. I tried to walk a bit faster, probably just my paranoid brain playing stupid tricks on me.

After walking past an incredibly creepy alleyway I could hear walking behind me. "Hey!Wait up!" The voice rang behind me. Oh Jesus! Gah walk faster Harl. The foot steps got faster as did mine. "HEY!" The voice rang again. I couldn't take it anymore so I stopped and spun around to confront the man. "What do you..." Then we rammed into each other, the man falling slightly on top of me. "UGH GET OFF!!" I tried to push him off, but he grabbed my small wrists in one of his massive hands."Woah! ! CHILL! It's Sam!" I stopped trying to punch him and got a good look at him. He was propped up on his knees now, holding me up.

I shook my head and started to laugh. I situated myself on my knees facing him. Sam started to laugh along with me. We sat like that for a few minutes until he stood up and held his hand out for me.

"Well, , you really do put up a fight." Sam said still chuckling and holding my hand. "I know! I'm so sorry Sam. Just, this place gives me the creeps sometimes."

Sam held my hand as we walked toward the bar, he fiddled with my fingers. We walked in silence for a little while until I broke it. "Sam, you know you can call me Harleen. It makes me feel like your teacher if you keep saying Miss." I said with a smile facing up to Sam.

Sam continued to look forward but answered. "I know, I just didn't want to call you anything else until you told me otherwise." Then he smiled down at me, his big green eyes dazzling in the moon light. I smiled back up at him. "I like you hair better this way." I said tussling it a bit. He laughed. "You mean not stuck under a cap? I do too."

We finally made it too Todd's. Sam stepped in front of me to open the door. The bar lights were bright and shone pictures of different beers. I stepped inside the small but nicely kept bar. There weren't too many people there, mostly couples my age and single older men. I stuck out my hand behind me blindly searching for Sam's big hand to clasp onto as I made my way over to the counter. The Bartender smiled up at me while he was cleaning a glass, and Sam sat down next to me.

"What can I get you's two's?" The male Bartender asked with a thick inner city accent. He was in his later forties with a small apron covering his bulging stomach. He reminded me of one of the people who were paid to play Santa Clause in the shopping malls, minus the white hair.

"Just a beer for me." Sam said. "Hmm...well, what should I get. I haven't had a drink in forever." I confessed to Sam. He smiled at me. "She'll have a vodka cranberry on the rocks, please." I raised my eyebrow. "Oh, sounds fancy." I said jokingly. "It's really not at all." Sam said smiling at me.

After a couple hours of drinking and joking Sam stood up, a bit wobbly I may add. "I think it's getting a bit late, Harleen." Sam said out-stretching his hand towards me. I pouted. "Not even a little while longer?" I asked pleading. He shook his head. "If we want to get you home safe we should leave now." Sam said smiling, and slowly wobbling in place. "Like you'll save me. You can hardly stand!" I said poking fun at his drunkeness. I to was a bit toasty.

I grabbed Sam's hand and stood up. He paid the bill and walked me out of the bar into the cold streets.

As we were walking he never let go of my hand. Sam was a real gentleman, always making sure I wasn't about to fall or letting me know there was a curb coming up. He hand one of my hands and his other hand was slumped around the small of my back. He made me feel incredibly safe walking down the dangerous streets of Gotham at night.

We got up to the front step of my apartment and stopped. "Well Sam thank you so much, tonight was great." I slurred trying to make it sound genuine, which it was, but my mind wasn't in the best state right now. Sam smiled up at me. "Same here. I hope we can do this again soon." He then bent his head down and kissed the back of my hands gently.

I'm not quite sure if it was the liquor of the lack of intimacy, but I bent my head down to reach his lips. I place my lips softly over his and locked my hand around the back of his neck. He came up the few steps that separated us deepening the kiss. He had to bend over to kiss me because of the hight difference but I just stood on my tip toes. He backed me up against the wall next to the door and continued to kiss me feverishly. We were amazingly concealed by the darkness of the night.

My hands slid onto the back of his neck, playing with his hair absentmindedly. He came close to me and pressed his hips against mine as I was now securely pressed up against the wall. My hands traveled down the front of his rock hard chest, slowly edging lower, past his abdomen. My hands made to the top of his pants and I looped my fingers into them, when he backed away. He pulled away so quickly that I was left panting, eyes still closed. "What..." I started slowly opening my eyes. "I'll see you later Harleen." Sam said slowly backing up. "What...did I do something wrong?" I asked impatiently. Sam shook his head. "No, no. I just...just can't take advantage of you when you're like this, please don't take this the wrong way." He said holding his hands up, also short of breath. "I'll see you at work Harleen." He leaned down down and kissed me lightly on the cheek , turned and left.

I was left on my front porch utterly confused. He really...didn't want to take advantage of me? I turned and unlocked the door. I slowly made my way up the stairs up to my little apartment and let myself in.

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I was excited to get to work the next morning to get to see Sam. I had such an amazing time last night and I was anxious to show him I'm still interested, even when I'm not shit faced.

I laughed to myself as it got into my car and towed off to Arkham.

I parked in the same spot as yesterday and quickly flipped the mirror down to fix my hair.

Satisfied with myself I grabbed all my stuff and hopped out of the car. I could see Sam stationed at the front door and a smile spread across my face as I got closer.

Sam's shoulders squared when he saw me. I finally made it up to him and leaned up for a kiss when he held me back with his hands on my shoulders. I was startled. "What?" I asked and Sam pointed upward at the camera facing us. "We cant be seen together, so we have to make it look like nothing, okay?" I shook my head 'yes'. "They haven't installed sound out here yet, so hand me your pass." I did as I was told and fished around in my bag to get it. "Uh, Sam I wanted to talk to you about something." I said while still looking for my pass. "Harleen, last night was great, I'm really glad we did it. But uh, this can't get out of hand. Co-workers aren't supposed to date. But I really, really like you." I finally got the pass and handed it to him making sure our hands touched. I held onto the pass so he had to hold onto my hand. "Sam, nobody needs to know." Sam sighed and seized the pass. He was such a big guy, but he looked so completely unsure of everything. I looked up at him. "It'll be fine. It's our secret."

I said pushing him back a little so we were out of the sight of the camera. I got up on my tip toes and kissed him. His hand slid around the side of my face as he leaned down to get a better angle. I could feel him smile within our kiss, until we heard a buzz from the other side of the door and we broke apart. I flattened my hair and took my pass back from him. The door swung open to reveal one of the nurses going out for a smoke. "Uh, have a nice day ." Sam said stiffly. I cleared my throat. "You to Sam." Walking in he gave me a gigantic smile, I couldn't help but smile back.

I walked toward the long hallway that held my closet. "On time ta'day ?" Betsy the beastly nurse greeted me with her manly voice. I gave a sarcastic smile. "Sure am!" I replied walking past her. Fat bitch is going to give me a problem every day, I can just feel it.

"! Good morning!" said cheerfully from her desk in her office. How...did she see me? I rolled my eyes and turned to go into her office. I plastered on a big fake smile. "Morning !" "I just wanted to let you know that is still in the infirmary so you will not be having a session with her today." I nodded and turned to leave.

I made it to my closet without another interruption. I unlocked the door and let myself in flicking on the light as I entered. Sitting in the middle of my desk was a single rose. A smile spread itself over my face. "Sam..." I sighed, picking it up and holding it to my nose. I inhaled, it smelled so sweet. I looked down and noticed there was a note under it. I picked up the white folded paper, the writing was in red crayon.

Doc,

It's time that you get to know me better.

Set up a session with me. You know you're able to.

Don't waste time.

-J.

I dropped the note and the rose. How did he get in here. I asked myself whipping my head around. All I wanted to do was get rid of the note and flower so I threw them into my waste basket. I turned away from it crossing my arms over my chest.

Thoughts rolled over and over in my mind. Is someone playing a trick on me? There's no way he got in here undetected. I was lost in my thoughts when I heard a light knock on my door. A nurse eased her way in. "Um , we have a patient that is being testy and he says he not going to give up until he talks to you."

The young nurse with curly red hair said staring down at her chart. "Oh no! Is Elliot okay" I asked panicky. "Um it's not Elliot, Doctor." My shoulders deflated. "It's not..." The nurse slowly shook her head. "Yes, I'm sad to say it is The Joker. He's being quite difficult, well more than usual and he's holding up a guard in one on the session rooms. He says he wont let the man go until he gets to talk to you." I rolled my eyes. Just my luck that the creeper wanting to talk to me. I sighed. "Sure, show me where he is." I said signaling her to go out of the door. I grabbed my white lab coat and followed her.

I followed the young nurse to the session room that The Joker was holding the guard in. I sighed when I turned the corner to see three other guards, guns drawn, facing the open door. I could hear the small whimpers of a full grown man. "P..Please not my other finger...Please. AHH!" The man screamed. I turned and was in the frame of the door. I stood there with my hand on my hip tapping my toe. I was truly annoyed.

"Well, well, well. Lookey what we have here, boys!" The Joker mocked into the blubbering guards ear. The Big guard was kneeling on the floor with his arm raised in the air. The Joker griped tightly onto the guards right hand. I could see four out of his five fingers were limp and swollen, obviously broken. "She comes in and I let the piggy go." The Joker demanded.

" you don't have..." I held up my hand to the other big guard holding his gun toward the open door. "No it's alright. I can handle it." I said squinting my eyes toward The Joker. His eyebrow shot up and he threw the man to the ground in front of the door. As I stepped over the gushing guard, placing my hands back on my hips. "Can I help you?" I asked The Joker sarcastically. "Oh more than you can ever know, sweetie."

He said, the sides of his pale mouth twitching up into a sly grin. I rolled my eyes and grunted. "Ugh. What do you want?" "Shut the door. I want a real session with you." He pointed at the guard who was looking at me pleadingly. "Ah, it's fine. I've got it." I said to the guard who had his gun drawn straight at The Jokers head."Shut. It." The Joker demanded, obviously not phased by the gun pointing at his head ready to take his life at any miss placed twitch. The big guard slowly obliged, closing the door but keeping an eye on me.

"So what do you want from me?" I asked staring straight at his brown eyes. "What do I want from you??" He asked playfully pointing at himself, and looking around guiltily. "I just want to talk. Is that so much to ask?" I rolled my eyes. "Fine. Sit down. Let's talk."

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His pale smirk was still plastered on his face as he shifted his weight from his left to his right foot, advancing toward me. I still had my eyes bearing into his. With a flick of my wrist I motioned to the chair sitting across the big metal table. "Sit." I demanded. His eyebrow tugged up again. "Sure thing." He slowly made his way over to the cold metal chair on the other side of the cold metal table. As he sat he slumped and let out a big sigh. Crossing his big arms behind his head in his long legs together he sighed. "Well-hell, that was a process, princess. Maybe we could meet discreetly next time. But then again, no. I like making a scene."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Please refrain from referring to me as any of your terms of endearment." I seethed. He let out a little chuckle and nodded. "Right, right. A Conflict of interest. But!" He started wagging a long finger in the air as he shifted positions into a relaxed slump. "But! Isn't that big ol' security guard a conflict of interest also, Missy?" The long wagging finger was now shifting from the door to me. Insisting on the connection between Sam and I. My back straightened as I squared my shoulders. "I have absolutely no idea what your..." He cut me off by standing up and leaning across the big, cold, metal table.

His big frame casted a shadow across the room from the light in the ceiling. He was a tall man, but not big. Not in the least. His shoulders were a manly square that made up most of his frame. But the leaness of his body and the muscles on his arms made him seem bigger than eh actually was. The towering feeling he gave me sent chills down my spine. I could feel the pit of my stomach flip when he talked harshly, for the first time. "No, you do. Don't be like them. You don't mind breaking a few rules here and there, and that makes you different. Unique. Like me." At the end of his sentence he lighted up the roughness in his voice. By standing up and tweaking a big, toothy grin. It was quick but it was still a different smile he had made.

I didn't exactly know how to reply so I started fiddling with my papers looking for information to talk about. No matter how annoying and brooding he was, he was still fascinating. "Do I make you nervous?" He said incredibly nonchalantly, settling back into his seat across from me. I shot my eyes up to him. "N...no. No you don't I'm just not quite sure..." He once again interrupted me. "You could've fooled me Doc. By the look on your face your oozing fear." He said with yet another smirk plastered on his face. I rolled my eyes. "First of all, I'm certainly not oozing anything, second, if you wanted to have a real session you should let me get my business done." I said looking back down to my papers to start filling out some information that was mandatory. "Take all the time you need Doc. I'd love to watch you do your business-uh." I shot my eyes back up to him, this started to feel routine. He'd make some sexual comment to me and I would insist on how inappropriate it was. "ENOUGH!" I shouted standing up. I was the one now who was leaning on the col, metal table. Even though my frame was significantly smaller than his, and my voice was slightly hitched, I tried my damndest to be tough. "I'm sick of this. OF YOU! I am NOT your physiatrist. I never will be! So this session is over!" I said gathering up my papers hastily still mumbling to myself. I was so furious that I didn't hear him make his way over to my side to grab a paper that was lying on the floor. He picked it up and handed it toward me. I turned to grab it but he held onto it, forcing me to turn to him. I was staring straight into his chest when I turned to him. He utterly towered over me, at least a foot taller. He was extremely close to me, I could feel the heat raiding off his body as it 'wooshed' over mine. I tugged on the paper again trying not to have to face him. I failed and looked up at him. His head was turned down toward mine, staring at me straight in my eyes. His chocolate browns piercing into my sky blues. My breathing hitched as I stared up at him. For the life of me, I don't know why I couldn't turn away. He continued to stare, keeping silent.

I could feel his chest rising and falling, in our so close proximity. My eyes continued into his as we stood there, not saying anything, just staring. Push him away Harleen! What are you doing? Are you insane? My mind wouldn't shut up so I shut it off, letting me gaze. He didn't move he just kept two hooded eyes plastered on mine. The only noise in the room was our breathing and the loud ticking of the clock. Well thats all that my red hot ears could make out.

Just then a loud bang sounded on the door. I jumped at the sound falling slightly backward but caught myself.