Arkham Asylum. The next morning. Analiese's POV

I woke up that morning, feeling sore and groggy. I must have passed out when the Joker, Jack, told me to sleep. I still though felt exhausted. The air was cold and I shivered when my feet hit the floor. I quickly brushed my hair and teeth, and carefully splashed water on my face. I looked in the mirror and grimaced. The side of my face was purple and swollen. Then I remembered something; last night, even though I was a mess, Jack called me beautiful. I blushed at that. I sat down for a bit and thought about what had transpired last night. He came to me when I needed him most, and did his best, everything that he could, to make me feel better and make sure I was alright. I have never been treated that sweetly by a man before, except maybe my grandfather. But that doesn't count, you know, it's not the same. He even gave me his blanket, and it was always cold at night in here, so I'm sure he must've been cold. On a side note, it smelled like him and I have to say, it smelled really good. It smelled like man, for lack of a better word. But it also had a distinct scent that I couldn't place, but it was good. Anyways, I realized that I should be terrified right now but I'm not because Jack promised that he would protect me. And I believed him with all my heart. I'm not sure if that's stupid, and I hope to God that my trust isn't completely misplaced, but something about the way he treated me last night told me that he was genuine. In fact, I'm sure of it because he told me his name.

With these thoughts mulling around in my mind I decided to see if he was awake. He was standing at the window waiting for me, and he smiled when he saw me.

"Good morning. How are you feeling?"

"Good morning, I'm ok. You?" He motioned for me to smile, most likely because I looked utterly defeated when I said I was ok. I tried to return the smile as best as I could but my face hurt when I did.

"I'm alright." He then gestured for me to stand back and sit down; the guards were coming to bring us breakfast. Everyone ate breakfast individually for some reason. It consisted of grey sludge, watery orange juice and very ripe fruit. Oh, I would have given anything for coffee or tea. I was still cold a bit. Regardless, I tried to eat as much as I could stomach before they came to take breakfast away.

After I was sure they were gone, I went back up to the window, only to find Jack waiting for me. He smiled and once again I tried to return it.

"Are you sure that you're ok?" He seemed genuinely concerned. I was touched.

I nodded. "Just sore. Tired. But I'll be fine." He nodded in understanding and I tried to reassure him with as much of a smile as I could muster that I would be fine.

"Want to hear a joke?" He asked and I nodded my head yes. Only he would try to attempt a joke at a time like this.

"Ok here goes..." he knocked on his window and laughed.

"Whose there?" I did my best to smile back at him.

"Annie" To make sure I understood he spelled it out in the air.

"Annie who?" I laughed when I realized he was using my name, sorta.

"Annie thing you can do, I can do better." He laughed and winked at me, and I laughed too, despite the fact that it made my face sore. Now I knew the real reason why they called him the joker, he was funny! He seemed pleased with himself at my reaction and I thought that now would be a good opportunity to thank him.

"Thank you." He seemed puzzled at first.

"It was just a joke."

I shook my head no and held up his blanket. "For everything."

"Ah, yeah. You're welcome." He smiled once again but it faded immediately and he motioned for me to step back. It was time for group therapy, and none other than Pines came to escort me there. My heart dropped and I sat back down on my cot. Jack was already out of his cell and cuffed by another guard. Pines's hand dug into my arm as he yanked me up and cuffed me. When he didn't think the other guards were looking he tried to grab my ass, only to have me step out of the way and conveniently next to Jack. He looked like he was about to attack Pines and I discretely looked up at him quickly and shook my head. Jack seemed to understand, and stepped away from Pines, who hadn't even noticed. He walked as close as he could behind me, however, and I felt my face flush and butterflies in my stomach when I realized he was doing it to try to protect me as much as he could.

Too soon we were in that ugly, sickly looking room and Jack sat down next to me. All the guards, except one who I didn't recognize, left and Dr. Benson sat down. While they were seating the other patients, Jack scrutinized my face. I suddenly became extremely self-conscious and I could feel my face going red. He made a quiet sound and I looked up at him. He had that look of extreme concern written on his face again. He was studying the bruise on my face, but once the last member of our little session sat down he looked away, and I resumed my normal studying of the grungy tiled floor.

"Good morning lady and gentlemen. I trust you all had a good night's sleep?" I could hear the smirk in his voice and Jack stirred in his seat next to me. I could hear that his breathing had picked up and I could see in my mind his eyes go dark and the look of fury pass over his face. I remembered that from last night, when he seethed when I told him of what happened. I said a silent prayer in my mind that he wouldn't do anything; I didn't want him to get into further trouble because of me.

"Regardless, even if your sleep wasn't as restful as I hope it was, lets get started, shall we? Today I am going to talk to you about introducing you all to an extra hour of therapy. I noticed that some of you like to fiddle with your hands, and one of the assistant doctors here has suggested that we have you all do crafts to direct your energies towards something constructive." The room was a tomb, and before anyone could protest he continued. "As for today, I would like to discuss with you all a topic that I have noticed is lacking in this group...respect."

I could feel the tension in the room, and once again Jack shifted. Once again I pictured his face, and I bent my head down further to keep anyone from seeing my red face. This was going to be a long session.

Arkham Asylum. Lunchtime. Joker's POV

I could barely sit in my seat that entire session. I knew that he was doing this to humiliate and hurt Annie. Every time I glanced at her she had her head hung further and further down and I knew that she was hurting. The only reason I didn't do anything was one, I was biding my time until I could make him suffer, and two, I didn't want any repercussions on Annie.

At lunch we sat in our usual spot, and I watched as she picked at her food.

"You know, you really ought to try to eat more. I know it's gross, but you're going to get sick. You already look like you're coming down with something, and last night didn't help. But more food might."

"I'm a vegetarian, sorta." She said quietly. Oh duh! I'm so stupid! If I had been paying attention I would have realized that so easily.

"Sorta?"

"Yeah it's weird. I don't like eating meat that I know has come from abused animals, cause I have a huge soft spot for them. So I just don't. But I don't have enough willpower to be a full vegetarian." She looked down bashfully and chuckled.

"Hmm, that's very interesting. Who would've thought? Here." I handed her my piece of bread and apple and half my dessert. In exchange I took her gravy laden meat and mashed potatoes.

"Oh really, you don't have to do that! It's too much!"

"Don't worry about it. You need it."

"Thanks," and she tried to smile as best as she could, but I could tell that it hurt. We fell into that comfortable silence that I have really started to love as we ate, and I kept my eyes trained on her face. I really rather liked this girl and every time I looked at her bruise I felt the same kind of anger that I did when I was younger, with my mother...

Anyways, she ate everything I gave her, and I was pleased. I leaned forward.

"You know what I would like most right now?" she said randomly.

"No, what?"

"Some tea. Or coffee. But since I'm not feeling up to par, probably tea." She looked off into the distance and smiled slightly. I could picture her in my mind cuddled up with a blanket, near a window, reading a book with a cup and saucer (because she seemed like a saucer type of girl) full of strong tea.

"Maybe they have some here..."

"I doubt it. What about you? What do you want most right now?"

"Right now? Hmm...that's tough. I want a lot of things."

"What are they? You've got me all curious now!" She giggled and I winked at her.

"Well, let's see, for starters, real food. And my clothes back. Oh, and I want to leave here! Can't forget about that one! Haha." We both laughed and for a short while everything faded away and seemed normal, in a sense.

"Oh and I want to settle a few debts with my favorite people here." She looked up at me, wide eyed, but smiled slightly.

"Listen, are you sure you're ok?"

"Jack," she whispered very quietly, trying to make sure no one would hear. It was such a sweet gesture and the way she said it made my breath involuntary hitch and a shudder run down my spine. "I'll be ok. And I have you to thank for that. You worry too much." She smiled sightly and I smiled back and she looked at me curiously.

"What?"

"You've been brushing your teeth, haven't you?" She asked very animatedly, and was very excited.

"Haha, you took your sweet time to notice! But yes, I have."

"It looks great! Your mouth doesn't hurt too much, does it?"

"Eh it was kinda sore, but not too much." I looked down at my lap, and actually felt my face heat up. She noticed!

"Well, I'm flattered you took my advice." She looked down and I realized it was about time to go back to our cells.

"Of course. You're not...stupid." The words didn't come out right, and I felt angry and embarrassed with myself. She seemed to nod in understanding, and went to take her tray up. She winced and struggled to get up.

"Alright my ass. Here, let me take that for you." I quickly grabbed hers and mines trays and quickly carried them away so as to not leave her by herself for very long. Luckily, no one seemed to dare swoop in while I was up.

"Thank you." She said when I sat down.

"Now, listen. You make sure that you put a cool washcloth or something on that as soon as you get back, alright?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Look at me." She looked up. "I'm serious. The swelling and bruising needs to go down, and I can tell that you're lying when you say it's only sore." I didn't mean to sound so harsh, but I really wanted to make sure she was ok. She looked down and I felt ashamed that I was so harsh.

"Hey, I didn't mean to be so...harsh...I only..." She cut me off.

"I know you weren't trying to be. And don't worry, I will." She tried to smile again and I appreciated her attempt.

"Thanks." I glanced up only to see the guards coming towards us. "Looks like it's time to go."

When we got back she started reading again and I watched, as usual. Every day we did this, and even though she knew I was watching her she carried on like she did before, and didn't acknowledge my presence. I was thankful for that. However, after only an hour of peace, the guards came and hauled us away again. This was unusual, but luckily they took us together. I could keep an eye on her, for now.

They sat us all down at small tables and I finagled my way to a seat next to my gi...Annie. A young woman, looking rather pretentious, stood next to Dr. Benson. She was a pretty blonde, but she had a face full of makeup and looked rather fake. She was the type of girl whose most men would be attracted to, but she was shallow and her only beauty lay in her cake face and too straight hair. You could tell by the look on her face that she knew men were attracted to her, and I wanted to wipe the smug little grin off her face. Except I wouldn't want to see comes off onto my hand afterwards. Yuck.

"Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I am Dr. Bush," you could hear the collective chuckle and a few whistles from many of the inmates," an assistant psychiatrist here at Arkham. I will be supervising your time in here. Anyways, let's get started, shall we? Today we have supplies for you to make whatever you like out of them, so please, proceed. Oh, and you have one hour." Her voice was squeaky and high, like she was trying to hard to sound feminine. I looked at Annie. No, this doctor had nothing on the natural beauty sitting so close to me. Analiese didn't have to try to be stunning, she just was. This doctor had to try, and she didn't even come close.

I looked at the table to see various forms of glue and glitter and paints, string of various colors and macaroni. Are you kidding me? This is stupid. Anyways, after a pregnant pause a few inmates reluctantly started, and after a minute or so the rest joined in. I waited even longer, but I didn't want to draw suspicion so I picked up some macaroni. Annie did the same as me. I noticed that in situations where she was unsure how to act, she followed my lead. It wasn't overt and I felt rather, good, to be looked up to like that.

We both started making our 'jewelery', if it can even be called that, and the room picked up to a normal level of chatter. Loud enough for me to quietly talk to Annie without anyone overhearing.

"Is blue your favorite color?" I asked when I noticed she was dusting several carefully painted dark blue pieces of macaroni with silver glitter.

"I think so, although, sometimes I like other colors better." Damn, her macaroni looked so much better than mine, and she didn't even try.

"And how did I know that you would paint yours purple and green?" She smiled.

"Well gee, I don't know. You must be psychic, I don't know how anyone would be able to tell that." I faked astonishment and was rewarded with a very quiet laugh and smile.

"You should put green glitter on the purple ones, and purple glitter on the green ones." Then all of a sudden she got that same look on her face as she did when she told me I should brush my teeth. "But, of course onl..."

"That's a great idea!" I immediately cut her off and began doing as she suggested. In truth, it did make it look better. And to top it off, I could feel her relax again.

We had a whole half an hour left and we were already stringing this stupid jewelery together. I did relish, however, in the familiar feeling of paint on my hands. When I was done, I inspected my necklace.

"Yes, hmmm, I should say this will fetch at least 30 grand on the market, if not more. And why, look at your masterpiece. Why Annie, you've done it again! That will fetch at least twice as much as mine!" We both laughed. I discreetly set my necklace in her hand. "A gift, for the lady." I whispered, and my voice got really low. She blushed and took it.

"Annie?" She suddenly asked me, and I realized the slip up I just made.

"Oh, opps. I'm sorry. I didn't mean...if you don't want me calling you that, just say so and I won't." I rambled on.

"Hey, it's alright. I don't mind in the slightest." She reassured me and just then, I felt a rush of happiness surge through me. Maybe this craft time wasn't so bad after all. Sooner than expected, however, we headed back to our cells to carry on the evening as normal. I stayed up that night just to make sure that Annie would be ok.