In Love With A Good Man

Chapter 30: Love

"Hey, Harley," Ivy spoke softly as she entered the hospital room holding a flower pot that held a single blue flower. "Sorry it took me so long to come." She apologized.

"It's okay," Harley stood up and walked past her, closing the door and the curtain to the room before turning and hugging her friend tightly. "Thank you for being here." She said appreciatively.

"Of course. Is...is that him?" Ivy asked, looking to Casey laying in the bed. He was still wrapped in bandages. Upon seeing him like that, her eyes widened and her expression saddened.

"Yeah," Harley nodded somberly. "He hasn't been awake since he got here. Far as I can tell, he hasn't even moved." She added.

"What has the doctor said?" Ivy asked.

"Joker threw Casey in the same chemicals that he fell in. Casey would've drowned in those chemicals if Batman hadn't put him out... We won't know how it's affected his head until he fully wakes up." Harley clumsily summarized, letting out a tired sigh afterwards.

"Oh god...Harley, I'm so sorry." Ivy said, putting a hand over her mouth as she contemplated all of this.

"I should be the one apologizing. It's all my fault," Harley shrugged and looked down sadly, speaking in a low voice. "I should've left him alone to keep him safe...but I loved him too much." She said bitterly, a few tears falling down her face.

"You can't blame yourself for this, Harley. You did everything you could." Ivy argued.

"Everything except leaving him alone. Joker only hurt him because he's with me." Harley pointed out.

"Harley...you and I both know that Joker would have never stopped regardless," Ivy said, sitting down next to her. She wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pressed both of her hands on Harley's arms. "Whether you were with someone or not.

"You found someone that you love who actually loves you. What Joker did was unfair, but it is not your fault. You were just trying to be happy. You deserve to be happy." Ivy spoke firmly to her.

"I-I know..." Harley nodded, breaking down into tears again. "But he didn't deserve this!" She said, crying again. Ivy held onto her, doing her best to comfort Harley.

"You're right, he didn't...and Joker will definitely pay for it. I can promise you that. I will do whatever I can to help you." She promised her.

"You will?" Harley asked through her sobbing.

"Of course I will. You're my friend, Harley. And Casey...well he's my friend too." Ivy said. Harley sniffled and blew her nose with a paper towel.

"Thank you, Ivy. I'm glad you're here. We both need you now." Harley said.

"Of course," Ivy said, rubbing Harley's arms again before standing up and sitting on the edge of Casey's bed. "I still feel terribly for Casey though. He was...he's a really sweet guy." She said, resting her hand on his forearm and feeling the bandages.

"He is...I'm scared of what'll happen to him when he wakes up." Harley admitted. She sat on the other side of Casey, holding his other hand.

"I'll do what I can to help you help him." Ivy promised again.

"Thanks, Ive." Harley said before leaning down, resting her head on his arm.

"You poor thing," Ivy said, brushing Harley's hair with her fingers before standing up and taking the flower she had brought with her. She set it down on the table next to Casey. "I brought a gift."

"It's a beautiful flower. Casey's favorite color is blue." Harley commented, doing her best to manage a smile.

"It's more than just a pretty flower. It emits a soothing scent that should help Casey to relax and stay calm. It will likely do the same for you too." Ivy explained.

"That's so thoughtful. Thank you so much for everything, Ivy. It really means a lot that you care about him too." Harley thanked her sincerely.

"Of course. I'm not one to forget when kindness is shown to me, especially with how rare that is in Gotham," She commented before walking back to Casey. "I've never met a man who was willing or able to understand me.

"I hope that he gets better. What I'm really hoping is that his mind will still be intact, because there's already not enough good people in this trash heap of a city." She said before leaning over and giving Casey a kiss on the forehead, leaving a lipstick stain on the bandaging.

"Please come back soon, Casey. We'll be waiting for you when you do." Ivy spoke softly into his ear before standing up straight.

"Is it time for you to go? So soon?" Harley asked. Ivy nodded, sticking her hands into her jacket pockets.

"Unfortunately. I'm sure you'll be getting news soon, and with the police still crawling around the building, I'll need to find a way to slip out before any of them come in here." She explained her thinking.

"Right, yeah, of course...thanks again for coming." Harley stood up and gave Ivy a hug. She returned it gladly.

"Keep me posted, please. I'll be nearby if you need me to come back." She said before leaving.

Once Ivy was gone, Harley closed the door again. She sighed again, sitting back down next to Casey. She took hold of his hand and kissed the bandages on the back of his hand.

"Oh, Casey...I'm so sorry for this. Please forgive me. I love you so much." Harley said, squeezing his hand tighter and pressing to her face.

Casey let out a weak, quiet but noticeable guttural groan, his arm shaking a little as he tried to move it. Harley's eyes widened as she looked towards his face.

"L...L-Love..." Casey whispered weakly. Harley gasped at this.

"Y-Yes! I'm here, Casey! You can hear me?!" She scooted closer to him, putting a hand on the side of his face.

"Love..." Casey said again.

"Oh my god, Casey, you're waking up! I-I gotta get the doctor!" Harley jumped to her feet and threw open the door to the room. "Hey! Hey, I need help in here! He's waking up! Casey's waking up!" She shouted down the hall.

"Love."

"I'm here, baby, I'm here," Harley rushed back to him, taking his hand again. She could feel him shaking still as he tried to close his hand around hers. She took hold of the bandages and started unwrapping his hand, setting the bandages aside.

The skin on his hand was completely white.

"I'm here, baby. I love you." Harley said, pressing his hand to her face and closing her eyes, feeling his palm brushing against her cheek.

A doctor and a team of nurses and assistants rushed in, making their way around the bed and starting to take charge of the situation, "We need to get him to the operating room and properly assess him now that he's waking up!" The doctor said.

"O-Okay..." Harley stood up, not expecting this. The staff rolled his bed out of the room, taking him down the hall. Harley followed behind them, still talking to Casey as they went ahead of her.

"Just hold on, Casey! Pull through for me, baby! I'm gonna be right here for you! I promise I'm not going anywhere! I'm gonna help you get through this! I promise I'm never gonna leave you!" She shouted to him.

The medical team pushed Casey's bed through a set of double doors. A security guard standing nearby stopped Harley from following them inside since this area was restricted. Harley wanted to fight, but she also didn't want to interfere with Casey's treatment.

She peeked between the doors until they closed in front of her. She then pressed her hand on the doors and slowly lowered herself to her knees again.

"I'm never gonna leave you, Casey...I promise. I'm gonna help you get through this." Harley repeated her promise again in a quiet voice. She shut her eyes tightly. All she could do now was hope that Casey would pull through and that everything would be okay...

To Be Continued...