Chapter 6:

"Pamela Isley. Pam. Pam, wake up!" Pamela Isley groaned in her sleep and half-heartedly threw a hand out at whatever doctor dared to wake her up at this hour of the morning. "Please wake up, Pammy. Please. I need your help."

Pammy? Pamela Isley frowned and squinted through tired eyes. "Dr. Quinzel? What the hell are you doing here?" Pam Isley exclaimed as she opened her eyes further.

"It's Harley now, Pammy. Harley Quinn," she grinned and Pam nearly jumped out of her skin once she finally got a good look at her.

"Like it?" Harley grinned too wide. Pam gaped as she took in Harley's appearance. She was used to the professional and businesslike doctor, but Harley didn't look a thing like Pam had ever seen her. She took in her red and black mini skirt and tight black corset paired with a thick pair of combat boots. Her blonde hair was tied in almost childish-like pigtails with a red or black ribbon adorning each. Her make-up was almost garish with her blood red lipstick and huge shadows of eyeliner around her eyes. Pam was surprised she had even recognized her.

"What happened to you, Harley-girl?" Pamela whispered.

"I got a make-over, Pammy!" Harley grinned and jumped up. Pam recoiled slightly, not used to the change in voice and personality as well as appearance of Dr. Quinzel.

As Harley swished over to Pam's small pile of belongings and grabbed a fresh orange jumpsuit, Pam suddenly put it together.

"You're a mock Harlequin. This is about the goddamn Joker!" Pamela said disgusted.

"Now, Pammy. I thought you knew!" Harley gulped and passed her the orange clothing.

"Knew? I was teasing you! I mostly thought it was some sick joke," Pamela said with her slightly green nose wrinkled. Her expression softened though when she took in Harley's crestfallen expression.

"I need your help, Pammy," Harleen repeated softly.

"You want to break him out," Pam realized in a monotone voice.

"You, too!" Harley insisted. "I want to break you both of your jail cells. But I can't do it alone, Red."

"And what makes you think I can?" Pamela Isley said loftily, crossing her arms.

"I was your doctor for over a year. I know what you can do, Pammy. Please, help me free him."

"If they catch us . . ." Pam turned and faced Harley. "They'll throw me in isolation at Blackgate. Joker, too. I'll never see my plants again. And you'll be here Harley," Pam said seriously, grabbing Harley's hand as she tried to pull away. "They'll lock you up as another victim of the Joker, driven almost as insane as he is. Do you really want to chance that?" She looked Harley in the eye. "It's not too late. You can wipe away the makeup, throw away the clothes, and be some smartass doctor again. Don't do all this for a madman."

Harley snatched her hand out of Pam's grip. "I'm doing this for me!" For the first time, Pam saw Harley angry. "Not that long ago, you wanted to be friends. Does that still stand, or doesn't it?" Pam thought she sounded like a petulant child and to seemingly embody this, Harley placed her hands on her hips and pouted.

Pam rolled her eyes. But she weighed her pros and cons, and with a mixture of pity, misplaced motherly instinct, and a small kernel of hope at the thought of freedom (and protecting her beloved plants again, Pam thought with a pang), Pam took Harley's hands in her own.

"I'm in. What do you need me to do?"

The Arkham Asylum's staff was well-trained to deal with the sinister, disturbing, and even creepy circumstances that frequented the mental institution. They had seen their own doctors turn into patients, dealt with mutated patients who weren't necessarily even human, and had the occasional direct contact with the mysterious vigilante known as Batman. But on the day that Harleen Quinzel turned into Harley Quinn, enough was enough. Because frankly, murderous plants that seemed to move and grow of their own free will was too weird even for Arkham standards.

Harley knew what Poison Ivy could do. There were still buildings on the East side that were being de-planted after her exploits with the Batman and Gotham's police force. So she didn't hesitate in bringing Pam to the central office of Arkham in broad daylight.

"Block all doors except the one in front of us," Harley whispered in her ear as soon as they arrived.

"Sweetie, I'm already a step ahead of you," Poison Ivy smirked.

They whole room jerked up their heads at the sound of screaming outside the room. With unease, most turned their heads to the suddenly noticed intruders Harley and Pam, who stood quite inoffensively in the center of the room. All of a sudden, giant thick vines burst into the room and impaled most everyone in the room.

Harley gulped a little at the sight of the puddles of blood forming in the room. Her eyes were fixated on a doctor she had had lunch with once or twice. The doctor, whose eyes were already glazed over in death, did nothing to help Harley's wavering confidence in her plan.

"Having second thoughts?" Poison Ivy asked mockingly, interrupting her thoughts. Harley shook her head, almost seemingly to convince herself, and without a glance behind her, walked through the door in front of her and Pam.

With a flick of Poison Ivy's wrist giant windows shattered, bursts of green vines spun through the room, and many of Arkham's finest cried out their last breaths. Harley barely had time to appreciate Pam's effectiveness between avoiding vines and pointing to the various doors that lead to their destination.

"Pam!" Harley screeched suddenly.

Poison Ivy whipped around and lifted her hand quickly. In response, a giant vine with deadly thorns impaled a shocked security officer before he could even reach for his gun. Several others entered the hall and a slight sweat shone on Pam's skin from her efforts to keep them from getting close to herself and Harley.

"NOOO!" she boomed as one man violently cut through a vine to reach the two women. She stalked over and grabbed his collar as the room stared at her in disbelief. "Don't. Touch. Them." She hissed. She picked a fallen shard of glass and personally stabbed it through his stomach and twisted. The man gasped and watched her actions, staggered and horror-struck.

She turned back towards the others and with a flash Harley thought she saw her eyes turn near red. "All of you," she purred, and Harley jumped at the change in tone. "Will march around and block this exit with whatever means necessary. Kill any human that tries to pass you," she said, almost lovingly. "Don't hurt my babies." She took a moment to appreciate her now dull-eyed and obedient army. "Now, go," she grinned a slow and sexy smile.
"What was that?" Harley asked with wide eyes as the men sprinted off and Poison Ivy turned back toward her.

"That is what happens when womanly virtues get combined with plant pheromones. Come on, that won't hold them forever!"

Harley led them through hallway after hallway until they reached the antechamber before the Joker's cell. Harley moved quickly to open the cell, but was suddenly stopped but a swarm of armored men.

Are those SWAT?

Poison Ivy didn't hesitate to attack. But with their additional armor, obvious training, and the pure quantity of them, Harley discovered Pam was outmatched for the first time.

Just as she was beginning to feel her own desperation, Harley felt a rumbling under her feet. She looked down, confused, and felt a vine tighten around her waist. She screamed and kicked furiously, but after a moment in threw her body against the wall at the edge of the room. She turned her head to see a giant tree sprout from beneath the concrete floor of the room and through the ceiling. Her mouth dropped open as the near dozen of officers were either impaled or forced through the glass roof of the antechamber.

"Red?" Harley coughed after a few minutes as the dust settled in the room. "Where are you?" She stumbled over now still roots and bodies until she nearly bumped right into her.

"Pam! There you are."

"Hi, Harley-girl. You okay? Sorry I didn't give you much warning," she said without moving her eyes from a large officer in front of her. His eyes were transfixed on her as well, and though he looked to be completely healthy, there was a dulled quality to his face and eyes that Harley thought she recognized.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's go, Pammy," Harley said with slight exasperation.

"Can't."

"What do you mean, you can't?" She said, her exasperation growing.

"This is where I'm leaving you, Harley-girl."

"What? You're not coming with us?" Harley let her hurt bleed through her words.

"With you and the clown?" Pam shuddered. "No. I got you here. You're steps away from him. And I'm free," she indicated to the open window to her left, her eyes still not moving from the soldier's.

"But . . . Why?" Harley pouted.

Pam suddenly took her eyes away from the man in front of her and turned to Harley. "You got your own life to live. Go off with that goddamn clown and start a circus or something. You don't need me anymore, sweetie," she said flatly.

Harley felt her eyes fill a little. "I thought . . ." she gulped. "I thought we were all going to go together," she admitted, realizing how much she wanted the plant-woman's company.

Pam smiled a little. "We'll see each other. Gotham's not that big a place. Don't be sad." She put her hand on Harley's chin. "Chin-up, Harley-girl. You got your man, after all," she laughed softly and Harley smiled.

The thug suddenly moved and without any hesitation jumped out the window. Both of them turned to watch him go. Since Pam didn't move or express any panic, Harley guessed that was exactly what she had somehow told him to do.

"Cute, isn't he?" Pam said, turning back with a coy smile. "I think I'll keep this one for a little while. I do like having a strong man around." She turned around to go with a swish of her red hair. "Oh, one more thing before I go." She walked back over to Harley and with no hesitation leaned forward and kissed her full on the lips. Too shocked at first to do anything, Harley stood still with her lips slightly parted and felt Pam's lips against her own. After a moment of bewilderment, Harley jumped back in surprise.

"What the HELL was that?" She gasped.

Pam giggled as she placed one slightly green leg out the window. "I wanted to leave you with a little something!"

"But . . . I . . . you . . ." Harley spluttered.

"Relax. I gave you some of my immunity, Harley-girl. I hope it keeps you safe." Pamela Isley pulled the other leg over and jumped from the window. Harley ran over and reached it just in time to see Pam land in the arms of her officer, now hypnotized to do her bidding.

"Safe from what?" Harley called out.

"Most poisons and toxins," Pam called out from below. "You'll need it, Harley-girl. You're welcome, by the way." She turned to go and blew Harley one last kiss. "Good-bye, Harley! Give the clown a smack for me!" With the vines trailing behind her, Poison Ivy and her minion sprinted off. Harley waved once, though Pam couldn't see, and smiled.

Who knew that I had once seen her as some sort of volatile patient? She's . . . my best friend.

She stiffened slightly as she head distant footsteps echoing. She quickly pulled out her gun and scurried to the Joker's door. She shot the lock three times before the door creaked open.

"What the hell?" Joker asked as Harley stepped into the room.

"It's just me, puddin'. Harley. Harley Quinn," she stepped forward as Joker's eyes nearly bugged out of his head.

Dread crept into Harley as the Joker was completely silent. For the first time, Harley realized that she wouldn't have anything to return to if the Joker didn't want her. Her hands trembled as she fingered her gun.

"So this is what a girl looks like when she ignores all the rules," Joker said eventually, his grin beginning to form.

"Not just any girl, Mistah J. Your girl."

"Well I'll be," the Joker stood up with a wide grin. "You really are breaking me out. Well," he turned and gave his cell a last look. "Let's go then."

Harley grinned and without thinking wrapped her arms around the Joker's neck in an embrace. The Joker froze and she cringed slightly as she realized that she had just embraced possibly the most notorious criminal in Gotham. She suddenly felt very afraid; she wasn't sure if he was going to slap her cheek or knee her stomach. But then she felt his hands cautiously slip around her back and she nearly swooned in pleasure.

"Joker! Put your hands up!" A man yelled from the doorframe. Harley felt the Joker stiffen again. "Release the doctor and put your hands up or I shoot!" The man yelled again from the doorway. Harley heard the distinct click of a loaded gun.

In one motion, Harley whirled around and shot bullet after bullet into the man in the doorway. As she felt the heat from the gun and the pull from the release, Harley saw the man in front of her crumple and the gun drop from his hands. But she kept firing, and some part of her was gasping, because though she had more than a few bodies on her hands after today, this was the first person she was physically responsible for killing. Finally, Harley pried her hands off the quivering gun and turned to look at her Joker.

A huge and terrifying smile filled his face, made all the more chilling by the scars on either side of his mouth. His eyes flared with life and excitement. He leered toward Harley until he was only a breath away from her mouth. The Joker licked his lips with anticipation and lightly caressed her startled face.

"We're going to have some fun," he breathed. He laughed deeply, pulling his head back as his body shook. Without a backwards glance, he exited the room.

With just the slightest pause, the woman who was once Dr. Harleen Quinzel got her bearings and picked up the gun from the floor. And without any further thought, Harley Quinn stepped over the dead body in the doorway and followed her Joker.

Personal Note:

This is my first fanfic I've ever finished, and I just wanted to say I've really enjoyed it! I can't say that Harley is my favorite character that I've ever written - but there is something about her that definitely intrigued me. The Joker himself is such a complex and disturbing character that you have to wonder what kind of woman not only falls in love with him but becomes his most loyal (henchwoman?). Also - what made this even more fun was publishing it for others to read! I've loved reading other Batman fanfics on here, as well as appreciated the comments and support I've got from others! Thanks to everyone for reading this far!

I wanted to give a little background about the Harley character I created in "The Harley in Harlequin". My primary influence were the videogames in the Arkham series by Rocksteady. That is where I first learned about Harley Quinn and where I was first struck by her. Her bio in Arkham Asylum didn't just describe her as a villain, but as a dangerous victim of the Joker who perhaps does everything out of love. I loved toying with that - how much of her "badness" is simply the evil in her, and how much is out of the manipulation the Joker has on her.

The voice, mannerisms, appearance, and relationship with "Mistah J" are all based on that view of her in the videogames. The Batman: Animated Series is where I got the basic idea of Harley breaking Joker out from Arkham as a story I might want to write. The little six minute clip of Harley meeting Joker, falling in love, and breaking him out (now as his sidekick) is still on youtube, I believe, and really helped me get the feel for Dr. Harleen Quinzel, since in the videogame she is merely mentioned/referred to and never shown.

After that, I just kind of flew with the idea of how Harley fell in love with the Joker and also turned into a badguy. I always thought the relationship between Harley and Ivy was fascinating (both from the comic books and videogames), and so I wanted to include Ivy in my story of Harley's origin, especially when I learned Harley does in fact help Ivy escape from Arkham multiple times in the comics. (Ivy does also give Harley the immunity to toxins, though how she gets it in here is of my own creation. Hee hee). The fact that Ivy cares for Harley in kind of a little sister way, when she has only ever cared for plants caught me. So she officially joined my plot.

In the Batman: Animated Series, it's implied that Harley breaks the Joker out in a fairly dramatic and violent way. But I wanted to focus on it a little more, so I decided to have Ivy help Harley with her first crime. That is probably my biggest departure from what was originally written by DC comics, so I was nervous about including it in my story. But I like the closure it gave everybody, so I decided to keep it.

Now, this of course, isn't the end for Harley and Joker. That's why I loved to leave it on that end "We're going to have some fun". Because what comes next is all the adventures we know so well. For those of you who are strictly Nolanverse fans, I'd like to think of this as going on during the Dark Knight (if Harley was included in Nolan's version of Batman world). Next comes even more of the cat and mouse chase between Joker and Batman.

I hope you enjoyed what I wrote! I'd love to hear anything you have to say, so definitely leave me a comment about anything (good or bad). I also love reading other people's perspective on Harley's transformations - so if you have your own definitely let me know and I'd love to check it out! I am always honored and humbled to have my work read and reviewed. Thank you, dear reader, for reading all 11,000 words of this. :)

Disclaimer: Almost everyone in here is of DC's own creation (though with my twist on it, I'll take my nod for that). Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn, the Batman cameo, the Joker, and Poison Ivy are all DC's characters and they, therefore, get the credit. Issac Bradley was of my own creation, so I can get credit for that slime ball. Boom.