CHAPTER THREE

Joker paced up and down in his cell. His hands were clasped behind his back and he looked at the white walls with contempt.

"Harleen..." He breathed as he thought of her. She really was something, wasn't she? The good girl who wanted to save everybody or fix them, whatever it was she did. What a beautiful mind to play with and contort.

Yes, Joker was looking forward to this. He enjoyed playing with people's minds and making them do as he wanted but there was something about Harleen. He truly believed that in his own, demented, twisted way, he loved her or felt something similar to it. He wasn't quite sure, he'd never be in love before or even close to it. But he guessed that was what it was. It had to be. He'd never wanted to posess someone so badly, to make them his own, his property. He grinned and layed down on the small metal framed bed as he looked up at the ceiling. He imagined her standing by his side as he took Gotham City for his own or even as he watched Batman fall to his death. He imagined showing her off at his club and watching with little to no interest as she fawned all over him. Oh the plans he had for his Harley.

"Harley." He said to himself as he sat up. "Harley...quinn. Harley quinn. From Harleen quinzel to Harley Quinn. I like it..."

He wanted to see her. No, he HAD to see her.

Joker banged his fist on the door untill a guard came up and looked in on him.

"What?"

"Harleen Quinzel, where is she?"

The guard frowned.

"She's gone home."

"Home?"

"Yeah. She'll be back in the morning. Now pipe down."

Joker's deep blue eyes locked with the guards'.

"What did you say to me?" He asked calmly.

"I said, pipe down."

"Oh, that's cute. You think you can tell me to pipe down? The Joker. The Clown Prince of Gotham city?!"

The guard just rolled his eyes at him.

"Yeah, you were the clown prince but now? You're just a nutcase in a padded cell."

The guard walked away while Joker banged on the door and screamed untill his throat was sore...

"Morning Dr. Quinzel."

"Morning Mike." Harleen said cheerily as she walked into work. Mike had been working security round about the same time that Harleen had started working and he knew that she never looked any different but today she did. Her blonde hair was down and left loose and she had a look about her; a more confident look and a knowing smile as she walked past him.

Harleen let herself into her office and sat down behind her desk. Of course Joker was her first session and she smiled broadly. She'd dreamt about him last night. He had been calling out for her and when she'd come to him, they did things that she'd only read about in books that made her blush.

She waited untill nine and even though it was only ten minutes, it felt like she was waiting forever.

He was already there when she came into the room. He was still in a straight jacket but he looked up at her when she walked in.

"Harley." He said softly.

She gave him a small smile.

"What did you just call me?" She chuckled.

"I called you Harley...do you like it?"

She thought about it. Harley...

"I thought it suited you better than Harleen."

"You're right...it does. Thank you."

He smiled as she sat down.

"So, how are we feeling today?" She asked as she flipped open his folder.

"You're wearing your hair down." He said.

She blushed and tucked a strand behind her ear.

Joker looked her up and down and made it obvious while he did it. Joker may have been insane but the thing about crazy people is that sometimes, they're more intelligent than they appear. He knew exactly what he was doing.

Harley cleared her throat.

"So, how are you feeling today?" She asked pleasantly.

"Better...now that you're here." He replied, making her look at him.

She did and stared at him for a long while. Then she shook her head. She had to remember that untill she cured him, he was out of his mind so whatever he said, he didn't mean. So why are you wearing your hair down like he suggested? Her brain taunted her. She ignore that last part and carried on as she would with any other patient.

"How did you sleep?" She tried.

"Not very well, Harley. I asked the guard if I could see you but he said you'd gone home." He told her, using the name he'd given her.

"Yes. I do go home. I don't stay here."

"I know. But I can't sleep knowing you're not here."

Again, she tried to overlook it but her heart was yearning for a love she didn't understand and she couldn't stop herself from feeling the way she did when he looked at her and said those things.

"We have medication you can take. It might help you sleep." She suggested.

"No that won't work, don't you see?" He pleaded, struggling in the straight jacket.

"I know I haven't known you for very long but you have to understand that I've never met anyone like you. I've never felt like I have with anyone but you."

She stood up suddenly.

"Stop it."

"What?"

"I said stop it." She repeated.

He frowned.

"I can't. I don't know how. I just know that I want you like I've never wanted anyone else."

She closed her eyes and then removed her glasses, biting her lip. She forced herself to get it together, to remain professional but it was proving more difficult than she'd realised.

"Don't tell me that you don't feel anything for me." He said, a touch of sadness in his voice.

She turned around and looked down at him.

"I do...and that's the problem."

He frowned again.

"Why is it? We can't help what we feel."

"You're a patient! I can't do this! I just can't!"

"Harley-"

"Don't call me that! My name is Harleen."

He sat back and looked down at the table.

She sighed and crouched down by the side of him.

"I'm sorry but you have to understand...you're not well. None of what you are saying is making any sense. What you feel, it's not real."

He turned his head sharply and glared at her, his deep blue eyes becoming darker.

"Guard!"

Harleen blinked and got to her feet slowly.

"What's happening? What's wrong?"

"Guard!" He shouted again.

The guard came in and looked at Harleen.

"Problem?"

Joker looked around her at the guard.

"I want to go back to my cell now."

The guard looked at Harleen and she nodded slowly. The guard shrugged and took Joker back to his cell.

Harleen watched the door close and then lent back against the table, holding her head as she tried to understand what had just happened...

Harleen had been told later that day, that Joker no longer wanted to continue his sessions with her and requested another doctor. She had been confused when she'd recieved the letter and for a month, she'd been lost. She didn't know what to do or how to feel about anything. All she saw was him; in her mind and in her dreams. His green hair, his silver teeth and those penetrating dark blue eyes. To everyone else, he was a monster but to her, he was something else and she couldn't quite understand why out of all the lunatics in here and the ones she treated in the past, he had such an effect on her. It excited as well as scared her but to know that he no longer wanted to see her, that almost broke her.

She had been been keeping track of progress though and had heard that he now visited the other doctor's office and had sessions there, without the need for a straight jacket. Maybe he really was getting better.

A month had passed and Harleen had enough. She wanted to see him. So one day, she sent a letter saying that he was to be referred to her for the one day that the other doctor had taken off. She was unwell or something. Everyone said it was a hangover.

Joker had surprisingly agreed and now she waited; hair down, glasses off and contacts in place, make up done to red carpet standard or as close as she could get.

A light knock came at her door and she flinched, heart racing.

"Come in." She called, trying to get her voice to even out.

He walked in and she stared. He was getting better, He looked stronger, more muscular but not too much. He was still slim but healthy. He kept his head down.

She gave him a small smile.

"Please, sit down." She said, gesturing to the couch.

He nodded and sat down as she took the chair across from him.

"How have you been?"

"Good." He said, avoiding her gaze. "They said my doctor has taken a sick day. Is she alright?"

His concern for another doctor annoyed Harleen more than she cared to admit and jealousy almost consumed her as she imagined him chatting to another doctor, another woman doctor.

"She's fine. Just a little hungover."

He nodded and then frowned.

"She always seemed a little too sensible for that."

"Yeah well she's not." She snapped.

Harleen sighed. She couldn't be the professional doctor anymore.

"Why did you walk out that day?" She asked.

This time, he did look up at her.

"Because you tried to tell me that what I was feeling wasn't real and I thought it would be better if I stayed away from you." He explained.

"Better for who?" She questioned.

"You."

"Me? Do you know what this past month has done to me? Do you know how many nights I've had that are sleepless because I can't see you?!" She ended up confessing.

He stared at her.

"You think you're the only one who has feelings they don't want? I shouldn't feel the way I do about you but I do! I can't help it. This past month has been hell. I couldn't see you, you didn't want me to! Don't you understand what that has done to me?! I've been going out of my mind!" She shouted.

Joker looked at her and sat forward, taking her hands in his.

"Why didn't you tell me how you felt?" He asked slowly.

She shook her head, tears falling from her eyes. He wiped them away gently with pale fingers.

"Because it was unprofessional...I shouldn't have feelings for a patient." She sobbed.

He sighed.

"You're in love with me."

She nodded. "I am."

Then she laughed. "Wow, it felt good to say that."

"Harley?"

"Yes?" She asked, responding to her new name.

"Do you mind me calling you that?"

"No. I love that name. In fact, I have one for you." She said smiling like a giddy little kid.

He smiled at her. "Well let's hear it."

"Mista J." She said, chuckling.

His smiled brightened. "I love it. I think it suits me."

She looked into his eyes. "So...what do we do now?"

His face went serious.

"We get out of here."

She nodded.

He looked around her office.

"You need to sign me off. Get me released, only you can do that Harley and then once I'm out, I'll come back for you."

She listened and nodded along.

"Ok."

"Do it today. Make this my last session."

"And then you'll come back for me." She repeated.

He nodded in agreement.

She frowned slightly.

"You promise?"

He leant forward and kissed her deeply and she kissed him back just the same. When they pulled apart, he smiled at her.

"Believe me?"

She bit her lip and nodded.

"I'll wait for you."

He smiled and then left her office.

Now it was up to her.

Author's Note- Oh he's coming back alright...take that anyway you want ;) X