All my freakilings, welcome back. Sorry, been working crazy hours and met my future in-laws the first week of april! Gah, it went well, but kinda stressfull. Well, read on. Things now pick up a faster pace.. love you all! ;) please review, i love them so.

He watched her as she just stood there, staring at him for a moment, as if confused of how she came to be in front of him.

"...Oh, I... I was.. just..." the doctor began to stammer, now looking anywhere but him. She was clearly flustered. Her hair bun had strings of hair sticking out of it, and her cheeks were flushed with anger that was slowly ebbing from her mind. Shame, too, he could see potential in her for blind rage, it made for great dinner parties! He did enjoy watching human emotions span across their faces. A person's face can tell you everything you need to know about them. How they lie, how they act when nervous or cornered, and even how gullible they are.

Standing up straight again, he crossed his arms once more and leaned his right shoulder onto the glass still facing her, crossing his ankles. "Please don't stop now dearie, you're upset!" He said with mock concern, waving his arm toward her in an up and down motion as if to show her what he was referring to. "Let it out, get it off your chest, have a rant or two... doctors recommend it, you know, hooo hooo hooo," he finished in a light laugh that sounded more like a singing owl to her. A demented singing owl.

"I.. I can't.. it's not professional. Doctors and patients shouldn't have unprofessional interactions," she stated, sounding as if she was reading from the Arkham Asylum staff handbook. She began smoothing her hand over her hair and squaring her shoulders a bit more, but her eyes looked down at the floor in an attempt to hide the tears about to spill over.

If he was going to proceed with his plans, best to keep the ball rolling.. Can't have her standing up to him, that just wouldn't do.

"Now don't give me that pish-tosh! I talk to you about my problems, I want you to feel comfortable as well..." he smiled, trying to goad more from her.

"Yes, but.."

Joker took a quick step back, pretending to be shocked, one hand flying to his chest as if offended. "But what? Are we not on speaking terms?" The back of the same hand now draped across his forehead in a woe-is-me manner. "Huh! And here I thought I could talk to my doctor... Pity." He put on a pout and made like he was turning away from her to head toward the cot, hoping she would back-pedal.

"No, wait! We can talk I suppose. After all, I am authorized now, it's just, umm.." She looked down the end of the hall as if worried someone was going to catch her red-handed.

Joker spun back toward her, grinning and clapped. "Good! And don't worry doc, it'll be our little secret. No one will be down here for a while. The rounds were finished a few minutes ago. We have some time. Only ones around us are the whack-jobs and we love company." The last word was said with a low sneer but she didn't seem alarmed.

Her posture was now more relaxed, her smile slowly creeping back on her face. He motioned to the floor directly in front of the glass of his cell. He, also, sat down cross-legged and waited for her to join him. Giving one last look around, she sat down, her left shoulder up against the glass, square on her butt, with her legs stretched out.

Leaning her head against the glass, she let the tears flow silently as she began. Her eyes had that far away stare to them.

"I feel like I'm changing. I'm not the same person I was a few months ago. It's like I am seeing things differently now. This place.. these people... I am very confused, is all I guess," she sighed. Wiping the tears off her face, she gave him a watery smile.

Joker had to admit, he liked seeing this particular human in pain. He was a master artist if he did say so himself. And she looked beautiful while in pain. He wanted to see her in pain more often. Wanted to cause her tears, her sorrow. Then wanted to be the one to make her smile after too. This was going to be so much fun, but best not to jump ahead.

"Lemme tell ya something, kiddo, discovering who you are, your place in the world, showing the society your true self... it's a doozy. But we all must do it. Some never do. Others like me, we show the world who we are and are locked up for it. All for what, being truthful? Showing our talent?! Take ol' spooky for instance. He was a doctor like yourself, but had a fascination with showing people their fears, and what did he get for it? A tiny cell to be forgotten about. Just like me." He finished putting a lonely expression on his face.

Harleen looked up at him with a mix of pity and adoration. "You're not forgotten about! You're the Joker! How could anyone forget about you?"

Aw, look at how she is trying to make me feel better. Chump, Joker thought.

"You're only saying that because you're my doc, Doc," Joker replied sounding saddened but his grin was growing back on his face. She was making this too easy for him.

"No, I mean it! Gotham could never forget about the Joker, not ever!" She had gone up on her knees now, hands supporting on her thighs, looking into his face intently. Her city accent had now come into play as well. He liked it better. Had a sort of charm to it.

"Well, as much as I enjoy your enthusiasm, won't matter. I'm stuck in here after all. But hey, at least I have you," he said, giving her a shrug of his shoulders. The doc looked at his face with concern and care. Suddenly her expression turned angry and she smacked her open hands on his glass door, almost making him jump. Almost.

"No! Don't you say that! You won't be here forever. I'll make sure of it. I'm here to help you. I want to help you!" Harleen was standing up on her knees, body nearly pushed up against the glass, it fogging with each breath she took.

Joker, seeing the opportunity, mimicked her stance. The only thing between their faces was the glass cell door. They looked at each other for a good short while. He just stared down into the innocent baby blues, unsure how to proceed next. The innocence of this creature, perplexing. She hadn't once looked at him in disgust or revulsion. Hell, the kiddo had laughed with him. That alone made her special enough to be killed in a grand way.

Their moment was hid well by the shadows of the hallway. If a guard or nurse at the end of the wing were to glance down, they could easily have missed the disturbing scene: an intern, with her blond hair a mess, pressing herself to the glass, tear-streaked face pleading to the psychotic patient grinning down at her with wicked intent.

After what seemed like several minutes, Joker's eyes narrowed with thought. The guards would be back soon, so he casually got up from his spot in front of her and started toward his cot.

Looking over his shoulder he said "Guards will be making their rounds soon. Better get going, Doc." A bit saddened by the news, she stood up, continuing to stare after him for a moment then began wiping her eyes, using her tears to smooth down her hair. She smiled at him and murmured a 'good night' as she began to walk away when she heard him say one last thing.

"Let your real self show, sweets, never be ashamed. Oh, and don't try to cover up the accent, either. I quite like it," he looked back at her reading the surprise there, chuckling darkly under his breath. She lifted her hand to cover her mouth for a moment, like she didn't realize it had come out. His maniacal eyes lit with amusement winked at her, causing another blush on her cheeks.

Harleen started down the hallway walking at a quick pace. Her heels echoed with a fast click-click-click. It was the echoing that made realize how quiet it was at the moment. Very strange for Maximum Security. At night. She looked around as she walked, slowing her pace when saw all the many eyes on her. Faces from bunks, corners of cells, or standing by the glass. They were all looking at her. Silently. She stopped and glanced around herself, unsure of what to do or say. Some faces she recognized. Riddler looked at her from his cot he was sitting on casually, back against the wall with his head leaning back. His legs bent at 45 degrees allowing his elbows to rest on them, arms out, relaxed. She hadn't seen him this docile before. He usually carried a pompous and callous air about him. Except now. He just stared at her, a slight furrow between his eyebrows. Just watching her.

Looking to the cell next to his, she saw Ivy was back in her cell. When did she get back? What else did I miss? Ivy just stared at her with the same air of distrust but the look on her face was.. cautious. As if she was cautious of Harleen. A toss of her red hair let loose what looked to be glowing orangey dust. Is that the spores she had heard of before? Ivy slowly stepped backward from the glass, keeping her eyes on Harleen until she was shrouded in darkness and hidden from view. The Mad Hatter across from Riddler and Ivy's cell was huddled in the right hand corner of the glass, face pressing against it, muttering about the Red Queen of Hearts and the Jabberwockey while looking at her and glancing down the hall toward Joker's cell. Calendar man next to Jervis, just sat on his cot, eyes darting around at the several dates covering every inch of his cell and looking at her every few seconds.

"Mark the date... the date for the doctor... the day the doctor cried for the clown.. the clown's date... Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November..." he trailed on with the calendar rhyme.

It unnerved her. They were all watching. Had they seen her and Joker conversing? Had they heard them speaking? Harleen started walking again, now determined to get back to her office. And hide. For a while. Would the patients tell their doctors? Would she be in trouble? Lose her job?!

NO! They can't fire me! I am a doctor and I need to help my patients. Patient. The Joker. He needs me. He opened up to me, ME! I am the only one who cares for him..

She then thought of the pet name he had called her. 'Sweets' She liked it. It made her feel.. special.

More determined than ever, she made her way across the terrace outside, ignoring all looks from staff that passed her. Going up the stairs to the Arkham Mansion entrance, she only stumbled a few times on the broken stone steps scattered here and there. She swiped her card once more to shut off the last electric barrier to the staff office. Once in her office, she shut and locked the door behind her and began pinning up clippings of Joker. From newspapers to magazine articles to wanted posters that had come from his file, the open wall space next to her desk was now swirling mix of greens, reds, purples, whites and blacks. Sitting in her small office chair, she pulled out her notepad and began writing down her thoughts on her patient. Thoughts she would keep to herself, and not show the Warden or Dr. Leland for that matter. She couldn't trust them to understand. How could they understand when they were apart of the problem?

Joker lay on his cot trying to get comfortable. He lay on his stomach, then on his side, this way, and that. He was restless, his mind buzzing with chaotic funnies through his head. What an interesting night! Who would have guessed his doc was quite the ball of fun? She had wanted to cheer him up.. she wanted to make him happy.

"Hehehe, the folks they hire in this joint.." Joker mused out loud. As much as he would love to scheme the next phase in his plan, something was distracting him.

Why did she want to make me feel better? Joker thought. It's not what doctors are supposed to do! They are supposed to make you feel cramped, conform to society. But she hadn't done that. She didn't suggest he change. Didn't implore him to see reason. She had said that he wouldn't be forgotten.

"Well of course I won't be forgotten!" Joker growled at the room. The thought made him grit his teeth. Why would she care?

He flipped back onto his back, wiggling his shoulders to scoot into a better groove on the flat cotton mat. Either way, she did look stunning while in emotional pain. He rather enjoyed it. Big blue orbs swimming in tears for her poor, saddened patient. The idea had him chuckling under his breath. Every word spoken, she hung onto. Her hands desperately clung to his glass cell door, eyes holding onto his gaze, unwilling to break away. And it was as if her face showed everything; feelings, fears, hopes. He could twist, pull, and rip them however he wanted.. ooooh.. to rip them apart would be fun. Then he could recreate them as he saw fit.

Maybe the little scamp DOES have some potential...

Pity there was no gift shop around. What better place to get a 'enjoy losing your sanity' present than IN an asylum?! Did people have no common sense?

He could feel his eyelids drooping down slowly. The sounds of the Maximum Security Wing were lulling lullabies to him. The demented, psychotic, maniac and deranged were singing the madman's anthem: screams, howls and shrieks. An old, dingy yellow light bulb in the hanging ceiling light nearest his cell began to flicker. His eyes watched it with curiosity, the buzzing hum also flickering with each flash of light. It was after a few moments that the light bulb gave up the struggle, no longer able to keep shining, and finally went out.

Like the light bulb, Gotham too, shall finally give up the struggle to remain a-lit. Joker smiled, always glad when the universe seemed to agree with him.

His eyes roamed around a bit before landing on the floors outside his cell. Interesting. The pathway of light down the large cell block now had darkened spot, one that, should someone slip across under the cover of the shadow, wouldn't be seen by the boy scouts watching the cameras. Meaning he could get around, unnoticed, if he stayed in the shadows. Very interesting.

"Well then," he said gleefully, standing up and dramatically brushing off his pants, "Let's see if the doc likes surprises! Ha Ha He He HA HA HA!"