"Well, he's a little scraped up, but nothing serious," said the doctor, as J.J., Arleen, and Harley sat in the examination room. "Physically anyway – you said he was delirious?"

"No, no, I just mistook…Harley for someone else," said J.J., hastily. "My mother. She looks a little like her – blonde hair, blue eyes, and I was kinda dazed from the accident…"

"He's fine," agreed Arleen. "It's not the first time he's been delusional – he's been that way since we were kids."

J.J. stuck his tongue out at his sister. "I can do a cranial scan if you like…" began the doctor.

"Oh no, that's not necessary, I don't think," said Harley. "I can handle mental problems – I am a head shrinker, y'know!" she laughed.

"Well, have a candy bar or two to recover your strength, and then you're fine to go," said the doctor, leaving the room.

"Yeah, I spotted a vending machine outside," said Harley, reaching into her purse. "Arleen, you wanna go get your brother a candy bar?"

Arleen sighed, rolling her eyes. "Fine," she muttered, taking the bill from Harley and leaving her and J.J. alone.

"You're sure you're feeling ok now?" asked Harley, gazing at him in concern.

"Yes, Mom…Harley," corrected J.J. "Sorry, you just…reminded me of my mother again being so…concerned for my health."

"You need to call her or anything?" asked Harley. "I know if I found out my kid went to the hospital and nobody told me, I'd be mad as hell."

"Yeah…you would," agreed J.J., slowly. "I mean…she would…but it's fine, I'm sure Arleen's calling her right now."

"What were you both doing out by Arkham anyway?" asked Harley.

"Uh…we were…involved in a…science experiment," said J.J., slowly.

"Yeah? Brainy guy, huh?" she asked, smiling at him. "I like that."

J.J. smiled awkwardly. "Well, Harley, we shouldn't keep you," he said, standing up quickly. "You need to get to your new job…"

"Oh, I can give you a lift home first," said Harley. "Least I could do after I nearly hit you…"

"No, that's ok," said J.J., hastily. "We'll walk – you just get to Arkham ASAP, c'mon…" he said, taking her hand.

In his hurry to head toward the door, he knocked his scraped knee against the hospital bed and lost his balance, hissing in pain as he fell to the ground. Harley knelt down next to him.

"You ok?" she asked, gently.

"Yes," he said, hastily. "Fine."

"Lemme see…" she said, reaching toward his leg.

"No, it's fine," said J.J.

"I am a doctor, y'know, J.J.," she retorted. "I went to medical school. Now let me see."

She pulled up his pant leg and felt the injury. "How does that feel?" she asked gently, gazing up at him.

"Yeah, fine, good…" stammered J.J., trying to cover his leg again.

Harley looked at him tenderly. "Y'know, it's funny," she murmured. "I've always liked older guys."

"Yeah, you have," agreed J.J. "Uh…I mean…yeah, you have?"

"Yeah," she murmured. "Only now I…think there's something to be said for younger guys too. I just feel…this inexplicable kinda attraction…" she whispered, leaning forward.

J.J. hated to think where things would have gone had Arleen not entered the room at that moment, saw him seated on the floor with Harley fondling his bare leg, and snorted in sudden laughter.

"Don't let me interrupt!" she giggled.

"Shut up," growled J.J., struggling to his feet. "I was just telling…Harley that we should head off and let her get back to her job at Arkham…"

"And I was just telling J.J. that I'm gonna give you a ride home first," said Harley. "He can barely walk with his leg all scraped and bruised like that."

"Well, that's a nice offer, Harley, but you can't drive us home," retorted Arleen.

"Why not?" asked Harley, puzzled.

"Because we don't have a home," said Arleen, emotionlessly. "My brother and I live on the streets of Gotham – our parents died when we were children and we have to fend for ourselves now. We only have each other left."

"Oh my God…that's awful!" exclaimed Harley. "I'm so sorry!"

J.J. looked at Arleen in puzzlement, but she gave him a look that said to trust her. "Yeah, it's pretty tragic," she continued, in the same emotionless tone. "So anyway, since we don't have anyplace to go, maybe we could tag along with you for the time being."

"You mean come along to Arkham?" asked Harley. "Gee, I dunno – they might not want too many visitors."

"Ok," sighed Arleen. "Then just drop us off by some fast food place – we'll need to go through their dumpsters to find tonight's dinner."

Arleen knew her mother was a tender-hearted woman, too tender-hearted for own good, some would say, and that starving orphans weren't the kind of people she would just abandon, no matter how awkward dragging them into work would be.

"No, don't be silly – you can both come with me," said Harley. "You can hang out in my office while I do the orientation, and after work I can take you home and give you a room at mine until you get yourselves sorted and back on your feet again."

"Oh no, you don't have to do that," said J.J.

"I don't have to," agreed Harley, nodding. "But it would be a pleasure," she said, smiling at him.

Harley left them to go fill out the discharge paperwork and collect the bill, and J.J. instantly rounded on his sister. "What the hell was all that?" he demanded.

"Hey, she bought it, didn't she?" retorted Arleen, shrugging.

"Yeah, she bought it, but what did the sob story accomplish?" demanded J.J. "We don't wanna get in the way of her meeting Dad, which we will be at Arkham, and in case you haven't noticed, she's kinda got the hots for me, so the last thing I wanna do is remain in her company!"

"Ok, genius, calm down and think for a moment," snapped Arleen. "Yeah, Mom's got a crush on you. So we've gotta be around to make sure her crush transfers from you to Dad. Trust me, as a woman, that's not gonna happen naturally, so we've gotta make it happen. And secondly, the only way we're getting out of here is with the help of someone who can build another time machine. And the only one who can do that is the same guy who built the first one."

"Uncle Jervis," said J.J.

"Yep," agreed Arleen. "And where would Uncle Jervis be right about now?"

"Arkham," admitted J.J., grudgingly.

"So y'see?" said Arleen, smugly. "I got everything under control. All you gotta do is control Mom."

"Easier said than done," muttered J.J., following her out of the room. "You've seen her when she gets in the mood with Dad. That woman doesn't take no for an answer."