Author's Note: I was going to hold off on putting this chapter up for a little while (Do I post too quickly?) but since there was a lovely review I will post. I hope the flow and characterisation of this works for you all. As always please share your thoughts.
Chapter Seven.
Before Harleen knew it, a month had passed and she was set the task of writing a monthly report on her sessions with The Joker. Harleen thought over the four sessions she had completed with The Joker. She had grown to almost look forward to the squeeze of anxiety and the rush of adrenaline she felt every time she sat across from him.
The sessions had gone in a similar manner to her second session with Joker. He seemed to enjoy playing the card games, though the gleam of excitement that entered his eyes when he won, and she answered one of his seemingly random questions, made her question whether it was that game he was playing, or her.
Either way Harleen found him enthralling (scientifically, a part of her mind desperately added). In her previous session, he had asked her about her glasses; to which she had flushed terribly and answered truthfully. This was worth it though, as Joker had answered her question, when she had won the next game, about how old he was.
He had bared his teeth at her for a moment, before inhaling slowly and leaning forward, his eyes predatory "I think I'm thirty, not to worry little Harlequin I like a, uh, younger woman" before cackling and demanding another round.
It had been a major break through, she thought, he had never told anyone his age before. Of course there was always the likelihood he was lying, but what interested Harleen more, was the 'I think' that had preceded his answer. Did he have trouble remembering his past? She asked herself, tapping her pen against her lip. It was a fascinating possibility that led to a whole to new series of questions.
Harleens thoughts swirled around The Joker (as a patient! The professional part of her brain screamed again) more often than not now. Thoughts of his therapy sessions and the questions she would ask, along with thoughts of her two other patients, occupied a large part of her brain; which she was thankful for in some way as it distracted her from darker thoughts.
The nightmares had not improved, Harleen had given up on taking sleeping pills, and now just accepted the nightmares as a part of her nights. Harleen pushed down thoughts of her nightmares, she couldn't think about the past, she was a collected, professional. Harleen adjusted her glasses, before finishing up her report and leaving her office to hand it directly to Doctor Arkham, who had insisted on receiving the reports himself, much to Doctor Leland's chagrin.
Doctor Arkham had been very impressed to see Harleens report, and even more so when she had said that she was in fact enjoying her sessions with Joker. Doctor Arkham had eyed Harleen seriously for a moment before warning her again to be careful with the Joker, and to not let her guard down.
The thought had crossed Harleens mind to remove Jokers straight jacket. She would keep his hands cuffed, along with his feet, but perhaps he would open up to her a little more if she showed some compromise. Harleen decided not to mention this to Doctor Arkham as she walked down the hall to her session with Waylon. A small smile crossed her face before she could stop it at the thought of Joker's reaction to her taking off his straight jacket.
Harleens session with Waylon was altogether uneventful, they had talked about some of Waylon's new favourite shows to watch (He had threatened to bite her hands off when she had tried to press about his parents so she had let that go) it wasn't till the end of the session that Waylon said something that had surprised Harleen.
"I heard you're the Joker's new shrink. Try not to die, the next doctor would take away the TV" He had rumbled, speaking more at once than he had ever before. Harleen raised an eyebrow "I am, I doubt he would hurt me Waylon. I'll be sure to note in your file in case of my death that they are to leave the TV with you" Harleen said, suppressing a smile.
With Waylon's words in mind, Harleen made her way down to her next appointment, with The Joker. Harleen felt excited at the prospect of showing Joker a little trust. She hoped he would be happy, Harleen frowned, that was not the right frame of mind for a Doctor she reminded herself.
Harleen quickly smoothed her outfit before nodding to Jim and making her way into the room. Harleen hesitated at the door for a moment before turning to the guards on either side of the door "I need you to take the straightjacket off Joker. He can be handcuffed instead today" The look of disbelief she received didn't surprise her.
"Are you sure Harleen? He could kill you" One of the guards, Jeremy, questioned. "I'm sure, it will be fine. I have my panic button" Harleen dismissed his concerns. The look the guards shared seemed to say that they didn't expect Harleen to come out of this unscathed, but they entered the room firmly locking the door behind them anyway.
A few minutes later they exited, indicating Harleen could enter. Harleens eyes locked on The Joker as soon as she entered. Joker was rolling his shoulders and neck in a manner that reminded Harleen on a snake, smoothly twisting with danger seeping from each careful movement.
Harleen stared for a moment before breaking from her trance and moving to sit down. "I thought you'd like to get out of that jacket for a while Mister Joker" She announced, setting her notes down on the table.
The joker laughed as he twisted his head around once more before looking forward at Harleen, a large smile pulling at his red lips. He groaned slightly and flicked his tongue over his silver teeth "What a good girl Harley, Harley, Harley" He chanted, leaning over the table as far as his restraints would allow.
Harleen leaned in slightly without thinking, before shaking herself internally and leaning back into her chair. The Joker seemed to notice this and bared his teeth at her, chuckling. "How about you take these, uh, chains off next? Don't you want to help your Mister J?" He rasped. Harleen doubted she would ever get used to the way he talked, the lilting, rasping tone never failed to hold her attention and draw her in.
Stop, Harleen told herself, she couldn't think like this about her patient. She was here as a doctor. "Of course I want to help you Mister Joker, but you know I can't take off all your restraints yet" Harleen said "But I'll do what I can to convince Doctor Arkham" She amended quickly, seeing darkness shutter over Jokers eyes.
"Good girl, my Harlequin. I knew you wouldn't want to disappoint me" He almost whispered to Harleen. Who found herself nodding absentmindedly. Harleen kicked herself mentally as she cleared her throat. "I was thinking we would do a word association game today, Mister Joker" Harleen said, avoiding the last sentence Joker had spoken.
Joker groaned loudly, flopping his head back as he dropped his cuffed hands on to the table top heavily. "I thought you were going to be interesting today Doc'" Joker said, rolling his head back around to stare at Harleen.
Harleens heart dropped at his disappointment, though it didn't surprise her. "If you cooperate with this, I'll bring you something nice next session, a coffee?" She offered hopefully.
Joker laughed loudly, dragging himself as far forward as he could, he hummed loudly before grinning at Harleen "You'll bring me a grape soda and we'll play a game I choose on our next date, and I'll be a good boy today sweetcheeks." He stated, there didn't seem to have been a question there but Harleen spoke her agreement anyway. She felt slightly nervous at both his mention of a game he decided upon, and a fluttering in her stomach at the mention of a date. Harleen, she scolded herself harshly, pull yourself together.
"Okay, I'm sure a smart guy like you knows how this works by now, Mister Joker. I'll say a word, you say the first word that comes to mind as quickly as you can" Harleen said, before pulling a list from her notes and uncapping her pen.
The test did not surprise Harleen, she felt again like Joker was playing with the test, giving violent, graphic, and even random responses. Still he had completed the test without interruption, a feat in and of itself with The Joker. Harleen hadn't expected much from the test, but it was needed for her next report on Joker, and she enjoyed seeing what was needed to get Joker to agree to her test.
Joker rolled his shoulders and neck once more, before grinning at Harleen, showing her all his teeth. Harleen had moved to collect her notes, but froze when she felt contact on her hand. Harleen stared at Jokers large, white hands as he ever so slightly brushed his fingers across the back of her hand. Harleen was stuck for a moment, marvelling at his tattooed hands. Various symbols were sprinkled across his hands, but what stood out most was the large, realistic grin, tattooed over the back of one of his hands.
Harleen inhaled slightly, as he pulled back his elegant, pianist's fingers, and laughed, flashing his silver teeth at her once more before Harleen gave a quick goodbye and walked quickly from the room. She was aware of the stares that followed her, as the guards marvelled at her attached limbs and calm demeanor.
Harleen stopped by the bathroom and put her hands on either side of the sink and leaned forward. She focused on taking strong, deep breaths as she stared at her hands. What was she doing? She questioned herself, she chanted her usual phrases in her mind; cool, calm, collected, professional. A voice unmistakably similar to the Joker's crept into her mind, encouraging her to relax, reminding of how cool and smooth his fingers had felt against her hand.
Harleen shook her head, she wouldn't think about this right now, she smoothed her ponytail, brushed off her spotless clothes, and carefully adjusted her glasses as she straightened herself in front of the mirror.
Harleen exited the bathroom, focusing on the notes she would write up from her days sessions, when she came across Doctor Leland. Doctor Leland was talking with two guards who stood either side of a burly man, shackled with his hands in front of his stomach.
Not wanting to interrupt Doctor Leland's conversation, Harleen made to walk past her silently. Harleen glanced up briefly as she passed, where her eyes made contact with the large man, a patient by the name of Ron Nealson she recognised. A moment after she broke eye contact with Nealson she felt a powerful force hit her side. Her ribs screamed in protest, a moment later a fist caught her face, once, twice, before she realised that Nealson had attacked her.
It took a moment for Harleen to come to her senses as she raised her knees to her chest and used her thankfully gymnastics strengthened legs to kick Nealson firmly in the chest, making him stumble backwards. The guards let out shouts as they hauled Nealson backwards down the hall.
Doctor Leland gasped as she crouched beside Harleen, she called for help as she pulled Harleen into a sitting position. A nurse from the medical unit, which was thankfully just down the hall, rushed towards Harleen. "What happened?! Are you okay Doctor Quinzel?" She questioned as she helped Harleen to stand.
Harleen ached, her ribs burned and her face felt thoroughly bruised. "Ugh, I'm okay, I think he caught my ribs pretty hard, and my face hurts" She said, trying to straighten, before gasping and bending back over slightly. "Come on Harleen, you need to go to the Medical Unit to get checked. Would you help support her other side, Nurse Rylan" Doctor Leland instructed.
Ten minutes later and Harleen was seated carefully on a bed in the medical ward. Doctor Leland had left quickly, wishing Harleen well before rushing off with the excuse of needing to file an incident report on her patient.
Harleen was excused a short while later, the doctor having given her some painkillers and two ice packets before finding the nurse from earlier, who was on her way out, and instructing her to take Harleen home.
Harleen was feeling slightly hazy from the pain medication, so the ride was spent in silence. Thanking Sonya Ryland for the help, Harleen made her way into her apartment. Heading straight to her bathroom, Harleen surveyed the damage.
Her left cheek and jaw was dark red and starting to bruise severely, her lip was split on the lower right side, and another bruise was forming along her right temple. Harleen sighed and gingerly peeled off her work shirt, thankful that she was wearing a button up shirt as her ribs protested even the limited movement.
Her ribs had already bruised darkly along her left side. Her ribs weren't broken thankfully, but the bruising was severe and ached sharply. Harleen sighed at her bruised face, as she brushed her fingers along her cheek. She supposed she should have expected to be injured at Arkham Asylum, but she hadn't thought it would be a random patient in the halls.
Harleen made herself a strong, sweet cup of tea, and took another painkiller. Harleen groaned as she sat herself down in bed, sipping her tea slowly, before lying back and setting her alarm for the next day. She had another session with Joker, as well as Crane, and she wouldn't let some bruises stop her from attending, she thought as she sipped her tea and sighed again.
It was funny, she thought, that everyone had been concerned with Joker injuring her in their session without his straight jacket, when the real threat was a random patient in the halls. Though this was unsurprising to her, Harleen trusted Joker not to kill her, and that was more than she could see about strangers, as it seemed.