Author's Note: Joker sessions will begin in the next chapter! Which will be up in a few hours most likely, to make up for this short chapter. The story will really gravitate around their sessions for a while once they begin, so if you'd like more in-depth sessions with Scarecrow or Killer Croc' (or any other character interactions) just tell me down below. As always comments are encouraged, good or critical.
Chapter Four.
Harleen felt particularly pleased this morning, she had a bounce in her step as she made her way through the various security measures on her way to her session with Waylon, she had a surprise for him that had her curious to see his reaction.
Harleen greeted Jim briefly, before spotting the thing that had her excited behind them. "Oh you have it! That's great, I think this is going to be a good thing" Harleen spoke quickly running her hands over the object.
"Are you sure about this Harleen?" Jim questioned "What if he got his hands on the thing, he could hurt someone with it, he could throw it at you" he argued.
"Jim, if Waylon was loose and in the mood to do damage, he wouldn't need anything to help him" Harleen reasoned "Besides I think this will put him in a good mood, that should make things easier on his guards" She added.
"Fair enough Harleen, I don't agree with it but you're the doctor" Jim sighed before opening the door for her. Harleen grabbed the cart and pushed it into room in front of her "Hi Waylon, I have a surprise for you today" she huffed slightly as she turned the cart to face Waylon.
Waylon stared at her, before glancing at the cart. Harleen thought she saw surprise flicker across his face, though he said nothing. "I was thinking about our session last time, and it occurred to me that you haven't had much of a chance to be around society in any normal sense, so I got this for our session today" Harleen said, taking her seat across from Waylon.
"A TV?" question Waylon glancing back to the television on the cart briefly. "Well it was a mission to find one that ran on batteries but I managed, I recorded all the episodes I could find of entertainment networks, BET network, and the news to start with" Harleen replied, slightly pleased with herself.
"So we're gonna be watching TV for therapy today Doc? Maybe I won't eat you" Waylon rumbled. Harleen flickered a quick smile at him before getting up to turn on the TV and selected the BET network to run.
Harleen spent the session carefully noting how Waylon reacted to the shows, he didn't say anything, but his eyes remained carefully trained on the screen the whole time. As the session came to an end Harleen switched off the TV and turned to Waylon "What did you think, Waylon?" she questioned. He remained silent for a moment before nodding at her "I like it" he said simply. Harleen grinned to herself before raising her hand to cover her mouth.
"Well we can continue with this next session, but I will have to ask a few more questions next time as well Waylon" Harleen said, as she gathered her notes and said her farewells to the guards.
Harleen felt good about her work, it was the bright spot in her life, however her personal life was another story. Nightmares had been plaguing her sleep, even her sleeping medication wasn't helping anymore. Harleen stopped by the bathroom to carefully reapply powder to the dark circles under her eyes.
Harleen stared at her reflection, in the fluorescent bathroom lighting she could see the shadows of nightmares in her eyes. She needed to push them down, her past couldn't be changed, she reminded herself painfully. Harleen took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled as she straightened up, she re-tied her long hair into a tight bun, before smoothing her tailored black pants and adjusting her deep green blouse.
Harleen took a moment to school herself, she was a professional, she couldn't allow herself to think about the bad things in her mind. Part of her chided herself at that thought, what would she say if it was a patient who had said that to her? She wasn't a patient though, she was Doctor Harleen Quinzel and she needed to be a calm, collected, professional; even if that meant pushing down the parts of her mind that hurt.
Harleen adjusted her glasses once more, as a sort of reminder that she was a real doctor and she couldn't allow her emotions to seep through. She smiled at herself at the mirror, a slightly awkward smile that kept her lips tightly sealed over her slightly crooked front teeth, and returned to her office.
Harleen was finishing up with writing out her report on her sessions so far with Crane, which were going well she thought; he had spoken briefly about a time in his life he had been ruled by fear, when he was a bullied child, and it had been a major step forward in gaining insight to his actions.
As she moved to return the file to the cabinet on her left, she heard a knock on her door. Calling for the person to enter, Harleen straightened her desk quickly before glancing up at Doctor Arkham, who had entered her office.
"Hello Doctor Arkham, what can I do for you?" Harleen asked, sending a small smile at the man.
"Hello Harleen, I heard that Mister Jones took well to his session today. I must admit, I was sceptical, but you do seem to have a way with the patients." He responded as he took a seat in front of Harleen.
"Oh yes, I think involving him in normal human society, something which has never happened with him due to his appearance, is a large step forward in helping to humanise him in a way he hasn't been offered before" Harleen said, saying more than she had meant to in her enthusiasm.
"You do have a way of seeing our criminal patients that is truly unique, Harleen. However I came here to talk to you about The Joker actually" Doctor Arkham said carefully.
Harleen felt her heart leap up into her throat, she cleared her throat gently before replying "Oh really? What did you want to talk about?" She said, hoping her nervous excitement didn't show in her voice too much.
"Well his current psychiatrist has resigned, from psychiatry in general actually, as a result of working with The Joker. I have given it some consideration and would like to offer you the opportunity to be Jokers primary doctor. This isn't a decision to make lightly, none of Jokers previous doctors have emerged unscathed, but given the promising work you've made with Crane and Jones, I think you can handle it" Doctor Arkham replied, a slightly grim expression on his face.
Harleen paused for a moment to collect herself, this is what she had been working towards, this was an incredible opportunity, though Harleen did feel fear in her tightened chest at the prospect of actually being face to face with The Joker.
"I think this is an incredible opportunity, I will accept of course, though I think my low risk cases are best handed over to other doctors once I am seeing Crane, Jones, and Joker" Harleen responded, proud that her voice remained calm.
"Of course, I'll have Doctor Leland redistribute your low risk cases. I have The Jokers case with me, which I'll leave with you. Please take the weekend off to prepare for Joker on Monday. I do hope you understand the magnitude of what being Jokers doctor means, Harleen. His previous Doctors have all been damaged, mentally or physically, or even killed." Doctor Arkham solemnly said, as he rose from his chair.
"Yes, I understand, I'll come to you if I have any concerns, Doctor Arkham, and thank you for the opportunity" Harleen replied, leaning over her desk slightly to shake Doctor Arkhams hand and to take the ominously thick file in his other hand.
Harleen refrained herself from running to her car, as she made her way out of Arkham Asylum, Jokers folder clutched tightly to her chest, her heart pounding in her chest as though trying to burst out. She was almost astounded that it had actually happened. She finally was Joker's doctor, she would be the one to pick at the twisted puzzle of his brain, she would understand, finally, who The Joker really was.